The Ministry of Defence has published a tri-service review paper, led by the Chief of the General Staff, into women in ground close combat roles.

As predicted by BAFF, the review does raise the prospect of women being allowed to serve in such roles, defined as "those roles that are primarily intended and designed with the purpose of requiring individuals on the ground, to close with and kill the enemy".

We re-publish the article below from 2014. As everyone knows, BAFF is not a trade union and does not seek to be, but the article shows how even a trade union model of representation (without "industrial action", obvs) works well in an allied country whose fighting troops and skilled medics have served robustly alongside British troops in Afghanistan.

Back in 2007 BAFF made a significant contribution to the pressure on behalf of Iraqi local staff who were in danger due to their work for UK authorities. One of the founding BAFF members was a leader of that national campaign. Other members serving in Iraq at the time held informal straw polls which showed support amongst the troops, and we contributed to the debate on social media and in broadcast interviews.

The Ministry of Defence is thought likely to relax the long-standing rule preventing women serving in the infantry.

A report by Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor of The Times (£ link) suggests that the review into female combat soldiers, which was brought forward by the previous Defence Secretary last April, is likely to be signed off by Michael Fallon as early as next week.

As has been the case since the start of the review, it is widely expected that the MoD will give women the chance to serve in ground combat roles.

If the decision proves controversial, some may try to blame the decision on a EU Directive.