SCHOFIELD BARRACKS (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Pentagon is opening more than 14,000 combat-related positions to women serving in the Army.

Starting Monday, positions will be available at Schofield Barracks in the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in the 25th Infantry Division.

Previously, female soldiers were excluded from those jobs because the roles were either close to ground combat or directly involved in combat.

Advocates pushed for a change in the policy since women already risk their lives by serving on the front lines in patrols, and in risky military police and security units.

The Department of Defense plans to assess the new policy in six months.

Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Just in time for Mother's Day, Geogunga and the Kunia Orchid Society will host a free seminar on how to properly care for orchid plants, and provide seminar attendees the opportunity to purchase graceful orchid plants as well as beautiful pots for mom.

Led by Geobunga's Keola Kalama, topics covered in the workshop will include how to transplant, split, prune and care for orchid plants. Featured orchids include the Cattleya and Dendrobium varieties, which are great for people who are just starting out, as well as for seasoned orchid growers who love to collect different varieties of orchids.

Geobunga also will have hundreds of orchids at farm-direct wholesale prices, starting as low as $5. With a myriad of pottery in styles and sizes to choose from, you can build the perfect Mother's Day present on any size budget.

To ensure your seat, reservations are highly recommended. Please register for this free seminar at www.geobunga.com.

An army sergeant's clean record didn't get him any breaks in court. Douglas Curtis was sentenced to the maximum 10-years in prison for the hit and run death of a teenager.

Circuit Court Judge Ed Kubo said Curtis is not defined by one act but that one act does provoke consequences.

Curtis, 26, was sentenced to the maximum prison time despite pleading no contest before the trial and this was the army sergeant's first offense.  His attorney also said he didn't have any history of drugs.

But Judge Kubo said Curtis was "reckless, callous and irresponsible" when he didn't stop to help after an accident that ultimately killed 18 year old Zachary Manago who was riding his bike at the time on Kamehameha Highway near Leilehua Golf Course in December 2010.