Defense Secretary Austin says women in military 'make us stronger'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Nov. 20, 2024, 7:13 AM EST


VIENTIANE, Laos — Women and racial diversity are vital to the strength of U.S. armed forces, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview with NBC News as he prepares to shortly exit the top military post after four years.

“I have spent 41 years in uniform, three long tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, and everywhere I went on a battlefield, there were women in our formation,” Austin said. “I would tell you that, you know, our women are the finest troops in the world. Quite frankly, some of the finest in the world.”

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major whose past comments about women in combat have raised questions and concerns. Hegseth said during a podcast released this month that the military “should not have women in combat roles” and that “men in those positions are more capable.”

Women made up 17.5% of the U.S. military's active duty force and 21.6% of the selected reserve in 2022, the Pentagon said in a November 2023 report. "They do impact readiness. They make us better. They make us stronger. And again, what I've seen from our women is quite incredible, and I'm not — this is not hyperbole. This is fact," Austin said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/defense-secretary-austin-says-women-military-make-us-stronger-rcna180937

[Zorro]

1. The Israeli Army must also be too woke for Republicans

[SeattleVet]

2. I was USAF from 1972-1984, and we proudly served with the women in our units.

There were some silly rules back then...when I was in Germany women were initially barred from serving as gate guard at our remote RADAR site, because that might be seen as a 'combat' role.

All of the women I served with were pretty exceptional at their jobs, doing everything right alongside the men and pulling more than their weight.

I also have two sisters, both of whom also served terms in the Air Force. One of them was doing almost the exact same job as I had done, but on a different aircraft (in-shop avionics repair; I was on the FB-111A and my sister worked on the F15).

Most of us had no qualms whatsoever about serving together, with a very few exceptions.

[electric_blue68]

4. Good to hear a first hand report.

[TomSlick]

3. Secretary Austin knows the military cannot function without women in the service.

The services are struggling with recruiting and retention now. Remove half of the available pool, and it will be impossible to maintain required strengths.

The MAGAts need to understand that basic fact or be prepared to reinstate the draft.