Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the ranking member on the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision to open all military positions to women:
“Today is a historic day for the U.S. military. After fighting for full combat integration, I strongly support Secretary Carter’s decision to open all positions in the military to women. This will strengthen our armed forces, and it builds on a history of honorable and courageous service by women throughout the military, as well as thoughtful research and analysis by the services and the Defense Department. Today we are telling every girl in America that she can serve her country just like the boys she is growing up with. And we are setting the military up for the greatest possible success by giving it access to the very best America has to offer – regardless of gender. I look forward to working closely with the Defense Department and the services during the implementation of this decision and beyond, to ensure that we are setting up all of our service members for success.”