Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), one of the first two female combat veterans ever to serve in Congress, issued the following statement after Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's landmark decision that all combat position in the U.S. military will be open to female servicemembers, without exception, starting in 2016:
"Over 280,000 women have deployed and served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. Many of these women have not only served effectively in combat, they have earned some of our nation's most prestigious awards for their leadership, skill, and bravery. This change is long overdue, and will increase opportunities for women who meet the required standard, to serve our nation in any job in the military. It's encouraging to see that the Department of Defense policy is finally catching up to the reality of the ways women have been contributing and serving our country."