For the first time in nearly 20 years, women in the U.S. military will be allowed to serve in front-line and elite combat positions.

Senior defense officials said Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is overturning the ban, which has been in effect since 1994.

The move opens hundreds of thousands of combat positions to women in the armed forces.

Panetta's decision does give the military until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions should remain closed to women.