General Jennie Carignan addressed remarks made by Idaho Senator Jim Risch, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who suggested that the integration of women in combat situations presents unique challenges that remain unaddressed. Risch made his comments during a session at the Halifax International Security Forum, when discussing whether President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, should retract his position against mixed-gender combat units.
“It’s a flawed perspective to ignore the realities that women have been part of combat for centuries,” Risch stated, emphasizing that discussions are ongoing about how best to integrate them into these roles.
Responding on Saturday, Carignan, who is also the first woman to head the Canadian military and has served in various combat operations globally, expressed her disappointment with Risch’s statements. “I want to ensure that no one leaves this forum with the impression that women somehow distract from national security and defense,” she asserted.
Carignan, whose military career spans 39 years, elaborated on the notion that the contribution of women to national defense should not be up for debate in 2024. She underlined the importance of recognizing the sacrifices female service members make as they willingly place themselves in harm’s way. “We need to acknowledge the women in uniform who are stepping up and fighting valiantly for their country,” she stated passionately.
Her remarks resonated well with the audience, earning her a standing ovation at the forum, which gathers security and defense officials from Western nations.
The issue of women serving on the front lines was reignited by Hegseth, a former Fox News political analyst, who has publicly stated through his book and interviews that he believes men and women should not serve together in combat. If confirmed in his position, he may challenge the Pentagon’s policy that has allowed women to serve in all combat roles for nearly a decade.
This ongoing discourse has sparked a wide range of responses, from strong support to harsh criticism.
Carignan’s prestigious appointment this summer as Canada’s first female defense chief came after her promotion to general, selected by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Her history of being a trailblazer includes being the first woman to command a combat unit in the country’s military, with deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Syria.
Prior to her current role, Carignan dedicated three years to overseeing professional conduct and culture within the military, a position established in response to a significant sexual misconduct scandal revealed in 2021.
Her leadership comes at a time when Canada is under scrutiny for not meeting NATO’s defense spending targets, pledging only to reach the required 2% of its GDP by 2032. Senator Risch remarked that Canada’s military expenditure strategies would draw laughter from Trump, emphasizing the need for more robust commitments.