WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security celebrates Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s efforts to restore merit to U.S. defense by establishing one standard for men and women in combat roles within the military. This uniform change is imperative to restore standards that are equal and promote excellence in combat arms, readiness, and lethality.
Meaghan Mobbs, director of Independent Women’s Center for America Safety and Security recently celebrated her reappointment by President Donald Trump to the Board of Visitors for West Point, the nation’s oldest military academy. Mobbs said:
“As a veteran, national security professional, and someone who has proudly worn the uniform in combat, I fully support Secretary Hegseth’s decision to implement equal standards for men and women in combat roles. This memorandum reflects a long-overdue recognition that readiness, lethality, and leadership demand excellence—not accommodation.
“The highest responsibility of our military is to fight and win wars. That mission requires setting and upholding uncompromising standards. When we dilute those standards in the name of equality, we don’t empower women—we endanger lives. True equality means holding everyone, regardless of sex, to the same high bar. It means trusting women to meet the standard, not lowering it for the sake of optics.
“This policy is a step toward restoring the core values that make our military the most capable force in the world: discipline, merit, and unity of purpose. I commend Secretary Hegseth for putting mission first and ensuring that every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine is judged by their ability to perform—not their sex.”
Meaghan Mobbs graduated from West Point in 2008 and served in Afghanistan. As a former paratrooper and combat veteran, she has devoted her work at Independent Women’s Center for Safety and Security to restore American leadership through military strength. See more of the work done by Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security below:
- On March 12, Mobbs published a policy focus, titled “The Role of Masculinity in Military Effectiveness and Lethality”, which proposes reforms to maintain military lethality and ensure U.S. forces confront adversaries decisively and successfully.
- In February, Mobbs testified before Congress in a hearing, titled “Emerging Global Threats: Putting America’s National Security First” on the mismanagement of U.S. foreign aid and the need to restore global leadership.
- Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security has developed a comprehensive policy focus to help lawmakers address the border crisis.
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