Women who served in the US military are pushing back against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement that the requirements for combat roles will return to the highest male standard, saying the standards have always been the same for men and women.
None of us have ever asked for special treatment, Elisa Cardnell, who served in the US Navy for eleven years, told the BBC.
Speaking to hundreds of generals on Tuesday, Hegseth reiterated his beliefs that the military had lowered standards to accommodate women and put service members at risk. His new directives would bring them back to a higher level, he said.
If it means no women qualify for combat jobs, then so be it, he said.
He maintained that women would not be excluded from the armed forces outright.
In January, the former Fox News commentator barely won approval in the Senate to head the Pentagon. Vice-President JD Vance had to break the tie vote, as many lawmakers struggled with his views about women in the military and about diversity.
Some female veterans were outraged. I am sick and tired of Pete Hegseth lying about women in the military and standards, former US Marine fighter pilot Amy McGarth said in a video on Instagram.
There has always been one standard for those jobs, she said. There was never a man's standard or a woman's standard for flying a jet.
Ms Cardnell, too, asserted that gender and age were not part of assessments given for combat roles. Combat standards are established based on the unit a person serves in, and all personnel in those roles must pass the same tests.
These standards have always been gender neutral, and they have always been set at a high standard, she said.
Despite disagreements, some female politicians expressed support for Hegseth's stance, claiming it prioritizes military excellence and accountability.
