Austin endorses women in combat jobs and exhorts West Point cadets to defend the Constitution

Source: Yahoo! News/AP

Wed, December 4, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST


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.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/austin-endorses-women-combat-jobs-000004668.html