In a recent podcast Hegseth stated. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles”. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.”
“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth Said on a Podcast this month.
Hegseth has sparked Debate Over Women’s Role in Combat. Hegseth has voiced criticism of integrating women into combat roles, claiming that the military has lowered standards to accommodate women in these positions.
Hegseth has an extensive military background, with service in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He has also served as an informal advisor to Trump over several years, both during and outside of Trump’s time in office, according to Trump advisors who spoke to CNN. Although Hegseth was considered for various roles in Trump’s first term, he was ultimately not selected.
However, with Hegseth, Trump may now have a loyal ally to lead the department with which he had a tense relationship in his first term. Trump had frequent conflicts with his first defense secretary, Mattis, who resigned in protest after Trump announced a sudden troop withdrawal from Syria. Esper, Trump’s next defense secretary, openly cautioned about the risks of a future Trump administration in the weeks before the election.
In a recent podcast discussing his book The War on Warriors, published this year, Hegseth expressed surprise that there hasn’t been more backlash. “I’m openly saying we shouldn’t have women in combat roles,” he stated. Hegseth argued that integrating women has not improved effectiveness or strength in combat but has instead made fighting more complex. “We’ve all served with women, and they’re great,” he said on The Shawn Ryan Show last week, adding, “But our institutions shouldn’t encourage it in roles where — not just traditionally, but historically — men have been more capable.”
Hegseth further specified that his concerns focus on women in “physically demanding roles,” such as Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Marine Special Operations, and combat jobs like infantry, armor, and artillery. “I’m talking about roles where physical strength is the key factor,” he explained.
Hegseth also criticized the military’s diversity programs, stating, “The ‘woke stuff’ has to go.” He emphasized, “The only measure that should matter is readiness for war. DEI and CRT have no place in military academies if we’re trying to prepare officers without this mindset.”
Here are the main reasons he has cited:
- Concerns about Physical Standards: Hegseth argues that allowing women into combat roles can lead to a lowering of physical standards, which he believes could impact unit effectiveness. He has voiced concerns that the military might adjust requirements to make combat roles more accessible to women, which he feels could compromise combat readiness.
- Belief in Biological Differences: Hegseth has pointed out physical differences between men and women, particularly regarding strength and endurance, which he views as essential in physically demanding combat roles. He has highlighted jobs such as those in special operations or infantry, where he feels that physical strength is a significant factor in effectiveness and survivability.
- Impact on Cohesion and Effectiveness: He has suggested that mixed-gender units might introduce challenges to unit cohesion, which is vital in high-stakes combat environments. He argues that combat roles traditionally suited men, based on human history, and believes these roles require physical and psychological resilience that he associates more with male soldiers.
- Critique of Military Diversity Initiatives: Hegseth has been critical of what he sees as the “woke” culture in the military, suggesting that a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) detracts from the primary mission of preparing soldiers for combat. He believes these programs could shift focus away from core combat training and readiness.
Hegseth’s perspective is part of a broader debate around gender integration in military roles, with opposing viewpoints arguing that women can meet the demands of combat and contribute effectively to mixed-gender units.