keep no formal figures concerning the number of gay and lesbian serving soldiers, saying that the sexual orientation of personnel is considered irrelevant and not monitored. Role of women Women have been part of the armed forces, on and off, for centuries, more fully integrated since the early 1990s, including flying fast jets and commanding warships or artillery batteries. As of 1 April 2014, there were approximately 15,840 women serving in the armed forces, representing 9.9% of all service personnel. The first female military pilot was Flight Lieutenant Julie Ann Gibson while Flight Lieutenant Jo Salter was the first fast-jet pilot, the former flying a Tornado GR1 on missions patrolling the then Northern Iraqi No-Fly Zone. Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming and Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas recently were the first Tornado GR4 crew. While enforcing the Libyan No-Fly Zone, Flight Lieutenant Helen Seymour was identified as the first female Eurofighter Typhoon pilot. In August 2011, it was announced that a female lieutenant commander, Sarah West, was to command the frigate . In July 2016, it was announced that women would be allowed to serve in close combat, starting with the Royal Armoured Corps. In July 2017, the Secretary of Defence announced that women would be allowed to enlist in the RAF Regiment from September 2017, a year ahead of schedule. In 2018, women were allowed to apply for all roles in the British military, including the special forces. , the most senior serving woman is three-star Air Marshal Sue Gray. March See also Armed Forces Day (United Kingdom) List of military equipment of the United Kingdom Atholl Highlanders – The only legal private army in Europe under the command of the Duke of Atholl in Scotland Banknotes of the British Armed Forces British Forces Broadcasting Service Community Cadet Forces Military Covenant – The mutual obligations between the nation and its Armed Forces. Network-enabled capability – British military concept of achieving enhanced military effect through the better use of information systems. Similar to the US concept of network-centric warfare. The Championships, Wimbledon#Services stewards Uniforms of the British Armed Forces Military history of Scotland Armed forces of Wales Notes References External links British Ministry of Defence (gov.uk) Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (.da.mod.uk) Royal Navy official website (royalnavy.mod.uk) Royal Marines official webpage (royalnavy.mod.uk) British Army official website (army.mod.uk) Royal Air Force official website (raf.mod.uk) British Armed Forces deployments