Austin endorses women in combat jobs and exhorts West Point cadets to defend the Constitution

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used a speech at West Point Wednesday to forcefully endorse having women in combat roles and emphasize the military’s obligation to defend the U.S. Constitution — ideals some fear may come under fire in the upcoming Trump administration. Has made fighting more complicated.” Austin, a retired four-star general who has spent more than 40 years in the Army and commanded at every level, pushed back, saying he’s seen incredibly capable and brave women fighting for their country in battle. So enough already.” While never mentioning President-elect Donald Trump, Hegseth or the incoming administration, Austin also admonished the cadets to remember their sworn duty to defend the Constitution. Top military officers, such as then-Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, resisted those plans, including issuing a memo that stressed that every member of the military “swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the values embedded within it.” “We defend government of the people, by the people, and for the people — and we do not bend on matters of honor, integrity, or law,” Austin said at West Point.