Military service for women was extended yesterday from 20 months to two full years. The decision was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting following recommendations from the army manpower branch. It is effective retroactively from June 1973 and thus affects women currently in service. Officials said the intention is to employ women soldiers for various tasks–which for security reasons the officials would not specify–thus releasing men soldiers for combat duties.
The Cabinet also heard reports from the Defense Minister, the Chief of Staff and the head of manpower in the army on the current drive to swell the army’s ranks by reviewing deferments and exemptions granted in the past. Cabinet sources said the drive encompassed a large number of men and was proceeding satisfactorily. The Cabinet discussed this as the Ministerial Defense Committee, and thus no details were revealed.
In another decision, the Cabinet resolved that high school twelfth graders could be employed by the volunteer civil guard for guarding assignments.
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