GRAND JUNCTION, Colo (KKCO) -- The Pentagon is aiming to allow women in the military to get even closer to combat.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon unveiled plans to permit female soldiers to serve in thousands of military roles closer to the front line.

A 1994 combat exclusion policy bans women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level, but now officials say the new policy will formally allow women to work in jobs at the battalion level.

217 thousand U.S. military personnel are women and some say allowing women closer to the front lines, is a reality that the Pentagon must realize, after a decade of war in Iraq, some say women soldiers have clearly proved their ability.

"I think women should be allowed to, I think they can handle it just as well as any man could, and I think women should almost be expected too, when they enlist in this day and age with everything going on in the world," says Veteran Amy Kuper.

Positions women could take on include being an Intel officer, Intel analyst, or supply officer.

Officials say they would be expanding the talent pool so there's more qualified personal assigned to positions, regardless of gender.

The report was sent to congress on Thursday and if lawmakers take no action, after a month the policy will take effect.

This new protocol would have a great effect on the Army and Marine Corps by adding as many as 14 thousand jobs for women.