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Chapter 5:

Women and Occupational Assignments

The assignment patterns for Selected Reserve enlisted men and women in occupational areas are reflected in Table 5.16. Most Selected Reserve enlisted women are assigned to two occupational areas: functional support (39 percent) and medical (15 percent). Enlisted men are assigned primarily to infantry (19 percent) and electrical/mechanical equipment repair (18 percent).

Table 5.16. FY 2001 Occupational Areas of Selected Reserve Enlisted Personnel, by Gender (Percent)
Occupational Code and Area
Male
Female
0
 Infantry, Gun Crews, and Seamanship Specialists
19.3
2.4
1
 Electronic Equipment Repairers
4.9
2.6
2
 Communications and Intelligence Specialists
4.9
3.2
3
 Medical and Dental Specialists
4.9
14.5
4
 Other Allied Specialists
2.9
2.5
5
 Functional Support and Administration
14.2
38.8
6
 Electrical/Mechanical Equipment Repairers
18.0
5.6
7
 Craftsmen
6.4
2.3
8
 Service and Supply Handlers
10.9
10.2
9
 Non-occupational*
13.5
17.8
Total
100.0
100.0

Columns may not add to total due to rounding.
* Non-occupational includes patients, students, those with unassigned duties, and unknowns.
Also see Appendix Table C-21 (Occupational Area by Component and Gender).

The April 1993 policy[Footnote 4] to open more specialties and assignments to women resulted in new opportunities for women in both the Active and Reserve Components. Women are not permitted to serve in direct ground combat roles, but positions on ships and aircraft engaging in combat are now open to women. In FY 2001, 2 percent of women served in infantry, gun crew, and seamanship specialties, as illustrated in Table 5.16, 2 percent less than in FY 2000.

The proportion of Selected Reserve women in non-traditional occupations, such as technical and craftsmen, was relatively low in FY 2001. Women were more than twice as likely than men to serve in the traditional occupational areas of medical and administration. In the future, the proportion of women enlisting in non-traditional positions in the National Guard and Reserves will depend to a considerable extent on the number of Active Component women in non-traditional skills, their willingness to join a Selected Reserve unit upon separating from active duty, and the proportion of technical skill vacancies in Guard and Reserve units. However, with the end of the military drawdown, there are fewer prior service women available to enter the Selected Reserve. Consequently, it is important to continue monitoring occupational trends by gender in both the Active and Reserve Components.

[Footnote 4]  Memorandum from Les Aspin, Secretary of Defense, Subject: Policy on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, April 28, 1993. [back to paragraph]

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