Canada’s top military officer, Gen. Jenny KerriganCalled out on Saturday US Senator Jim RischComments about the role of women in combat during a panel at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia. She expressed concern about the need to justify “women’s contribution to defense and service to their countries”.
During the same forum on Friday, Rish, ranking member US Senate Foreign Relations Committeewas asked whether President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, should retract his comments suggesting that men and women should not serve together in combat units. In response, Risch said, “I don’t think anyone would agree that it’s delusional that women in combat create certain special situations that have to be faced. I think the jury’s still out on how to do that.” is.”
address ReeseStatement the next day, CarignanFirst woman to lead Canadian Armed ForcesResolutely resisted his comments. “If you will allow me, I would first like to respond to Senator Risch’s statement yesterday about women in combat because I do not want anyone to leave this forum with the idea that women are a distraction to defense and national security.” said.
Kerrigan, a 39-year veteran with extensive combat experience, emphasized the invaluable contribution of women to defense. “After 39 years of service as a combat arms officer and risking my life on operations around the world, I cannot believe that in 2024, we still have to justify the contribution of women in defense and service to their country,” she said. . “I don’t want anyone to leave this forum with the idea that this is some kind of social experiment.”
Her comments received a standing ovation from the audience, which included defense and security officials from various Western democracies.
Carrigan’s military career
Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during a change-of-command ceremony this summer, becoming Canada’s first female defense chief — a position appointed by the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A trailblazer in the Canadian Armed Forces, she was also the first woman to command a combat unit. Her distinguished career includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Syria.
For the past three years, she served as head of professional conduct and culture, a role created in response to the 2021 sexual misconduct scandal.