Austin endorses women in combat jobs and exhorts West Point cadets to
defend the Constitution
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[December 05, 2024]
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used a speech at West
Point Wednesday to forcefully endorse having women in combat roles and
emphasize the military's obligation to defend the U.S. Constitution —
ideals some fear may come under fire in the upcoming Trump
administration.
Speaking to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in New York, he recalled
commanding troops during the early days of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
He said he wanted to keep his command post at the front where he could
see the fight, but he told his soldiers that the risks were serious and
any of them could stay back and no one would think less of them.
It was one of the women, he said, that was first to challenge him on it.
“In no uncertain terms, they were telling me to stop talking and get to
the fight. And that is who the women of the United States military are,”
said Austin.
His remarks are in contrast to some made by the man Trump has tapped to
be Austin's successor to lead the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth, a Fox News
co-host and former Army National Guard soldier, has made it clear that
he believes men and women should not serve together in combat units.
A month ago, he told podcast host Shawn Ryan that, “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."
Austin, a retired four-star general who has spent more than 40 years in
the Army and commanded at every level, pushed back, saying he's seen
incredibly capable and brave women fighting for their country in battle.
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"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," said Austin. “And any
military that turns away tough, talented patriots — women or men —
is just making itself weaker and smaller. So enough already."
While never mentioning President-elect Donald Trump, Hegseth or the
incoming administration, Austin also admonished the cadets to
remember their sworn duty to defend the Constitution.
His remarks echoed others who have warned about the potential for
Trump to try and use active-duty military troops to police the
southern border, deport immigrants who don't have legal permanent
status, and even on city streets to combat urban crime. And through
his campaign, Trump has renewed his pledge to deploy troops within
the U.S. when he deems necessary.
During his first term, as riots against police brutality roiled the
nation, Trump pushed to deploy military personnel on Washington,
D.C. street. Top military officers, such as then-Gen. Mark Milley,
who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, resisted those plans,
including issuing a memo that stressed that every member of the
military “swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution and
the values embedded within it.”
“We defend government of the people, by the people, and for the
people — and we do not bend on matters of honor, integrity, or law,”
Austin said at West Point. “We are here to protect our people, to
defend our country, and to uphold our Constitution. And that is not
negotiable.”
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