Marines testing women in combat jobs

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps commandant says there may be some anxiety from male Marines as female officers work their way into infantry and other combat jobs that historically have been open only to men.

Gen. James F. Amos told a National Press Club audience Tuesday that early steps have been successful, but some of the harder tests are yet to come.

Two female Marine officers have volunteered to attend the grueling infantry officer school at the Marine Corps’ Quantico, Va., base next month as military officials gauge whether women can handle the course’s extreme physical and mental challenges.

The Pentagon in February announced that the military was formally opening up thousands of jobs to women in units closer to the front lines to better reflect the realities of modern warfare.