The US Army has announced that it will be opening up more combat arms assignments to female officers at five major bases this year. The move is part of a multi-year effort to integrate women into previously closed occupations such as infantry, armor, and field artillery. Currently, 80 female officers are already serving in these positions at five different forts across the country. As many as 500 women currently serve in every active brigade combat team in the Army. Female officers will be integrated into these units first, followed by noncommissioned officers and then junior enlisted soldiers. This comes after the first female officers graduated from basic officer leader courses in 2016.