WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday strongly backed girls serving within the army throughout an impassioned speech on the U.S. Navy Academy at West Level, in an obvious dig at President-elect Donald Trump’s decide to guide the Pentagon, who has mentioned he opposes girls in fight roles.
Whereas Austin didn’t particularly point out Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for the job starting on Jan. 20, he strongly criticized the concept that girls shouldn’t serve.
In a wide-ranging speech about management within the army and present threats going through america, Austin recounted serving with girls in fight, together with throughout his time in Iraq throughout the 2003 invasion.
“Everywhere that I’ve gone on a battlefield, I’ve seen women fighting for America and they are incredibly capable, incredibly accomplished, and incredibly brave,” Austin mentioned.
“So look, if I get a little fired up about this, it’s just because this isn’t 1950. It isn’t 1948. It is 2024,” he added.
The Pentagon in 2013 lifted a longtime ban on girls serving in front-line fight positions.
In 2017, a feminine U.S. Marine grew to become the primary lady to finish the Corps’ notoriously grueling infantry officer course, seeing off dozens of male candidates who failed the choice coaching.
“Any military that turns away tough, talented patriots — women or men — is just making itself weaker and smaller,” Austin mentioned.
“So enough already,” he added.
Throughout a podcast final month, Hegseth mentioned that he was against having girls in fight roles.
“I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. (It) hasn’t made us more lethal. (It) has made fighting more complicated,” he mentioned.
Hegseth pushed forward on Wednesday along with his bid for the job amid doubts within the Senate over allegations about his private {and professional} life.
