I used to serve with guys like Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, so his public comment, made on a podcast this month – "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles" – did not shock me.

This isn’t a unique statement, but an unfounded belief by a minority of men who feel threatened by strong women in uniform.

Regardless, with Hegseth’s nomination, I felt inclined to remind the Army National Guard veteran and Fox News commentator that with women now a significant portion of our armed forces, it would be not only outdated but strategically misguided to exclude us from combat.

As a woman who served in Iraq with an infantry unit, I bring firsthand knowledge of what it takes to work and thrive in one of the most demanding environments our military has to offer. The concept that women can’t, or shouldn’t, be in combat ignores the strength, resilience and skill that women have repeatedly demonstrated on the battlefield.

I have stood shoulder to shoulder with men and women who trained just as hard as I did, who faced the same dangers and who handled themselves with professionalism and courage. I didn’t need special treatment or lowered standards – I needed and sought the same opportunities to serve my country as any other soldier.

History has shown that when we exclude others simply based on gender or race, we miss out on brilliant leaders and skilled soldiers who are committed to the mission.

In today’s complex global landscape, the military cannot afford to lose out on any talent.

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And perhaps – if we were to truly reexamine the underachievement in our military ranks and engagements over the past few decades – the only consistent liability would, in fact, be men.

So, we might ask, why does the military persist in privileging men in combat roles despite the mounting evidence of inefficacy?

For centuries, men have been at the forefront of combat, lionized as quintessential warriors defending nations and ideals.........

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