This Memorial Day, like so many others, was filled with quiet moments of reflection, flags waving, wreaths laid, heads bowed in remembrance. But too often, when we honor those who have served and sacrificed, we forget about the women who were there as well. Women have been part of the U.S. military for more than 200 years. They have driven convoys through war zones, served as medics under fire, flown combat missions, and led troops into battle. They have always been there. And now, the right for women to serve in those roles is in danger of being taken away.
In 2015, women were finally allowed to serve in all military combat positions. That decision came after years of pushback, advocacy, and effort from both inside and outside the military. It was a big moment, not just because it opened doors, but because it affirmed something women in uniform have always known: they belong. They are just as capable, just as committed, and just as brave.
But that progress is at risk. Donald Trump has already named Pete Hegseth as his pick for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has long opposed the idea of women in combat. He has publicly argued that including women weakens the military and that these changes were just political correctness. This is a reflection of a larger pattern of trying to roll back the rights of women, especially when it comes to public service, leadership, and representation. Hegseth’s views are outdated and dangerous. They send a message to every woman serving right now that her contributions do not matter. That her sacrifice is somehow less. That no matter how hard she trains or how well she leads, she will never be seen as fully equal.
And the truth is, women in the military already face more than their fair share of challenges. According to Brookings, although women make up 17 percent of the active-duty force, they are concentrated in lower ranks and underrepresented in combat arms, the very roles that lead to top leadership positions. Structural bias is baked into a system that still treats men as the default soldier. Women are more likely to report feeling isolated, excluded from informal mentoring networks, disrespected by peers and superiors, and far too often experience sexual harassment or assault. These are outcomes of a culture and structure that was not built with women in mind.
For women of color, LGBTQ+ service members, and others at the intersections of identity, those obstacles are even steeper. Racism, sexism, and homophobia often compound and go unaddressed. Transgender service members have faced outright bans and policy whiplash, putting their service and safety in constant question. The military has never been an easy place for women, but it is made even harder when the top brass or elected leaders try to turn back the clock.
We cannot go back to a time when women had to fight just to be allowed to fight. Women served in World War II as pilots, codebreakers, and nurses. They served in Vietnam and the Gulf War, often without recognition. Today, they are fighter pilots, intelligence analysts, infantry officers, and everything in between. Their stories deserve to be told—not to glorify war, but to affirm that women have always participated in shaping history, even within systems that have often failed to value them.
As Lt. Gen. Lori Reynolds once said, “The issue is not whether women can serve. It’s whether we’re willing to recognize their service as equal and essential.” That recognition must include standing up against those who would strip away their right to serve in combat, a right that was earned, not given.
This Memorial Day, we remember all who served. But remembering is not enough. We have to speak up. We have to challenge the decisions and the leaders who want to take us backward. And we have to keep telling the truth: women in the military are not a distraction, a liability, or a political statement. They are service members whose roles deserve recognition, even within a deeply flawed institution.
