American Notes AIR FORCE

Deep below ground in 100 concrete launch-control centers across the U.S., teams of paired Air Force officers keep watch over the U.S. ICBM force. Next month that stressful, tedious duty will take on a new complexion. For the first time, the military will permit men and women to share the 24-hour shifts.

Previously, only members of the same sex served together. But the small number of female officers meant there were relatively few all-women teams. This led to scheduling problems as well as resentment among the men, who served many more shifts. The change, says Major Suzanne Randle of the Strategic Air Command in Omaha, "simply reflects an evolution of existing policy."