SCOTTISH women will be the first to be recruited for tough frontline combat roles since the ban on females in ground close combat was lifted.

The army’s newest regiment, the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, is making history by taking applications from women in Ayr, Edinburgh and Cupar from November.

The Edinburgh-based regiment is also running an executive stretch exercise on the Pentlands this weekend for men and women to allow them to test their leadership and team building skills.

Earlier this month, former Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to lift the ban on women serving on the frontline after a recommendation by the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter.

The decision followed extensive research which looked into three key areas of potential risk to women on the frontline including musculoskeletal injury, psychological issues and impaired reproductive health.

As a result of the Interim Health Report’ (IHR), combat roles will be opened to women in a phased approach over the next three years starting with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry later this year.

But the army’s own research suggests that less than 5 per cent of its 7,000 women would pass the current infantry fitness test.

The basic fitness test for the infantry involves recruits completing an eight-mile march in under two hours while carrying a backpack weighing 55lbs (25kg).

There is also an advanced fitness test of marching two miles carrying 20kg in 18 minutes, and a further two-part test of 20 miles carrying 25kg in five hours, followed by 25kg over 25 miles in six hours and 15 minutes the following day.

The change means women can now serve in frontline roles in the armoured corps, cavalry and infantry.

The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry’s commanding officer, Lt Col James Campbell-Barnard, said frontline roles were open to anyone who was able to meet the army’s strict standards.

He said: “This is the last cog in the wheel in terms of opening all roles up to all parts of society and we want to maximise the talent within society and that goes for both males and females. They’ve proved their worth in combat over the last decade in Iraq and Afghanistan – they’ve been right up at the frontline. We’re convinced they can do the roles. We’re not going to lower any standards at all so they have to meet the same standards that their male counterparts do, but this is all about maximising the talent they have to offer.”

The British Army welcomed the move to give Scotland’s newest regiment the chance to take on female recruits north of the Border. A Scottish army spokeswoman said: “ This move by the MoD, to allow women to apply for employment in all jobs in the British Army (and Royal Marines and RAF Regiment) means that we are able to maximise talent and choice, both for women who already serve and new applicants.

“The fact that we have a brand new regiment in Scotland and Northern Ireland, The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry (an Army Reserve unit which is part of the Royal Armoured Corps) which can start implementing this new policy from November is excellent.

“We always strive to be at the cutting edge of training, and will be able to offer young men, and now young women, a chance to train for and to serve in exciting and varied roles.”

The move has not been welcomed by everyone and among its critics is Major Judith Webb, the first woman to lead an all-male field force unit.

She said: “We are physically different. Why isn’t Andy Murray playing Serena Williams in open competition at Wimbledon? She’d probably give him a good run for his money, but the point about it is that what’s wrong with accepting that we’re different? I just feel the physical demands of infantry soldiering are not for women.”

A five-year programme of research into the physiological impact of combat roles on men and women is not expected to be completed until 2021.