Women in the military

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has been serving for less than a year, but he has instituted two major changes at the Pentagon: allowing women to serve in combat and adopting anti-discrimination measures to protect gay and lesbian troops. Gwen Ifill spoke to POLITICO's Michael Crowley who describes Carter as a "creature of the Pentagon" -- someone familiar with building and how to get things done.

In a historic move, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that all combat jobs in the U.S. military will now be open to women. Gwen Ifill sits down with Carter to discuss the decision, as well as the U.S. approach to the war on the Islamic State.

The U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy are expected to allow women to serve in all combat roles starting next year. But the Marine Corps commandant has asked that Marines be excluded from the new rule. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus joins Gwen Ifill to explain why he feels that gender should not bar servicewomen from Marine combat roles.