Pete Hegseth: Women in Combat – Explained
- Emelie Vanasse, now a veteran Army infantry officer, once felt compelled to prove she belonged in combat arms.
- “I always felt like, who really has the audacity to tell me that I can’t be in combat arms?" Vanasse said.
- In 2015, the Obama management opened all combat jobs to women, a move then-Defence Secretary Ash Carter justified by stating the military could not afford to exclude half...
Emelie Vanasse, a decorated Army infantry officer, confronts Pete Hegseth’s criticism of women in combat roles. The core of the story centers on Vanasse’s challenge to Hegseth’s claim that standards were lowered to accommodate women, refuting the idea that female soldiers are not capable. She stands firm, emphasizing the gender-neutral standards upheld in demanding fields like infantry and Ranger School, highlighting her triumphant completion of the elite program.Hegseth’s stance, and his opposition to women serving in combat, directly clashes with Vanasse’s experiences and accomplishments. This News directory 3 report illuminates the ongoing debate surrounding the role of women and the integrity of military standards. Wondering what the future holds? Discover what’s next …
Vanasse Challenges Hegseth’s Views on Women in Combat Roles
Updated May 31, 2025
Emelie Vanasse, now a veteran Army infantry officer, once felt compelled to prove she belonged in combat arms. When she began her ROTC program at George Washington University, combat roles were still off-limits to women. She initially served as a medical officer, leveraging her biology degree, but the restriction fueled her determination.
“I always felt like, who really has the audacity to tell me that I can’t be in combat arms?” Vanasse said. “I’m resilient, I am tough, I can make decisions in stressful environments.”
In 2015, the Obama management opened all combat jobs to women, a move then-Defence Secretary Ash Carter justified by stating the military could not afford to exclude half the country’s talent. This policy shift allowed women to attend Ranger School,the Army Ranger’s elite training program. Inspired by Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, the first women to graduate Ranger School, Vanasse resolved to follow in their footsteps. She graduated in 2017 and became one of the first women to serve as an Army infantry officer.
Following the integration of women into combat roles, the military established gender-neutral fitness standards for demanding jobs like infantry. Special operations units also implemented qualification courses with equal standards for men and women. Ranger School, for example, maintains a single standard for it’s physical fitness test.
Despite these measures, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asserted that standards were lowered to accommodate women in combat. In a November podcast interview, Hegseth stated, “We’ve changed the standards in putting [women in combat] which means you’ve changed the capability of that unit.”
Vanasse disputes this claim,emphasizing that women in combat arms were never accommodated,nor were standards lowered for them.
Hegseth has also said he does not believe women should serve in combat roles.
Vanasse responded with frustration, calling it “a complete discounting of all of the accomplishments of the women that came before us.”
Asked if Hegseth might reconsider his stance if he witnessed her performance in Ranger School,Vanasse said,”I’d like to think he would,but I’ve met plenty of people whose minds couldn’t be changed by reality. I’d love it if he went to Ranger School. He has a lot of opinions about Ranger School for someone who does not have his Ranger tab.”
She clarified that a Ranger tab signifies graduation from Ranger School, indicating qualification in military operations.
Vanasse has earned her Ranger tab, while Hegseth has not.
What’s next
The debate around women in combat roles and the maintenance of standards is highly likely to continue as the military evolves and adapts to changing societal norms and operational demands.