Noel Niccum

Noel Niccum is an air force program manager. Although she has a masculine-sounding name, she is a woman. Women have been serving in the military for decades. Still, the political climate in recent years has pressured lawmakers to eliminate outdated policies that have excluded women from combat roles. Many times they are motivated by fear of having women learn how to use firearms and handle heavy equipment- which would be changing policy from one of exclusionary to inclusionary. The military has been moving slowly but steadily towards integrating women into all areas of the military. They have included women in the infantry, artillery, tank crews, and other combat roles. Conservatives argue that women are too “delicate” to handle the physically demanding work demanded by the military.