Former veteran Sen. John McCain issued a statement of support of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat.
“I respect and support Secretary Panetta’s decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat,” said McCain in a statement. “The fact is that American women are already serving in harm’s way today all over the world and in every branch of our armed forces.”
McCain added that many women soldiers had already made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ by perishing overseas and that the nation owed them a “deep debt.”
McCain also suggested that the military should not weaken their physical standards as more women enter combat.
“As this new rule is implemented, it is critical that we maintain the same high standards that have made the American military the most feared and admired fighting force in the world – particularly the rigorous physical standards for our elite special forces units,” he added.
