Additional Coverage:
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other military leaders are criticizing President-elect Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has said that women should not serve in combat roles, claiming it has weakened the military.
Panetta, who lifted the ban on women in ground combat units in 2013, argues that women have proven their abilities in these roles. He emphasizes that they must meet the same physical standards as men, which have not been lowered.
Despite Hegseth’s claims, statistics show that women have successfully integrated into combat units. In fact, over 2,500 women now serve in previously closed ground combat jobs, including 10 who serve as Rangers in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment.
Former servicemembers, such as Allison Jaslow and Garrett Jordan, attest to the competence of women in combat. They argue that Hegseth’s comments are outdated and that women have earned the right to serve in these roles alongside men.