The 1970s brought new hope to women hoping to enlist. Many barriers were broken with great effort.

      In 1972 two policy issues intertwined to advance women's position in the US Armed Forces. The first decision was to quit the draft and rely on the AFV. The second decision was to quit the proposed Equal Rights Ammendment to the Constitution. With the ending of the draft, the Department of Defense recognized the necessity in peacetime to rely on increased numbers of military women to meet personal needs.

      For the fisrt time ever women were able to advance to brigadier general and admiral ranks. Also for the first ime there were Navy and Coast Guard ships sailing with male/female crews.

      Weapons training be mandatory for both men and women. In 1972 The Army and Navy opened pilot training to women. In 1973 six women won their wings and designations as Naval aviators. Women were allowed admission into the Air Force by 1976 and by 1978 women were being trained to serve on Titan missle launch crews.

      In 1973 the Supreme Court upheld the entitlement of civilan male spouses of servicewomen to the same benefits as servicemen's civilian wives. In 1974 women were no longer invouluntarily discharged for pregnancy and parenthood.