Representative Tom Graves (R-Ga.-14) issued the following statement after the Department of Defense announced Thursday that the ban on women serving in certain combat roles would be lifted:
“The Defense Department’s decision, at the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, rightly honors the courageous service of our women in uniform. The new policy is on par with reality, as women already serve on dangerous missions all over the world and hundreds of servicewomen have been wounded or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Servicewomen will now have thousands of additional positions to compete for, yielding more opportunities for promotions and leadership roles. I am confident that our military leaders will implement the policy in a way that strengthens our military and guarantees that it will continue to be the greatest in the world. I thank all our servicemembers and their families for serving our country and sacrificing every day to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.”