(MCT) — WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is planning to lift the ban on women serving in ground combat units, removing one of the military’s last major gender barriers and opening up more than 230,000 combat jobs to females, senior Defense officials said.

The historic decision, which Panetta is expected to announce Thursday, means women serving in the Army and Marines may soon be assigned for the first time to combat roles in infantry, armor and field artillery battalions, companies, platoons and squads.