Fox Distorts and Misleads on Women in Combat
Fox guest Robert Maginnis baselessly speculated that allowing women in combat occupations would lower military standards, contradicting research that shows the decision will not degrade the combat effectiveness of the military.
On the July 30 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade introduced an interview with Maginnis by claiming “the reality is our military might have to lower its standards in order to help” women qualify for service. Maginnis attacked the “radical feminists” in the Obama administration adding “there are differences between men and women and we have to maintain our fighting edge.”
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Stephen Platt explained that gender-neutral occupational standards “will enable us to select those best qualified for positions and may reduce non-combat related injuries for both men and women.” A Bloomberg article quoted Army Lt. Gen. Howard Bromberg who stressed that the Army is “prepared to respond to misperceptions that standards will be lowered.” Bromberg noted that the “use of valid, equal standards for men and women should make clear the fairness of job qualifications.” Juliet Beyler the Defense Department’s director of officer and enlisted personnel management agreed, “We’re not going to lower standards,” saying it’s “not a matter of lowering or raising standards. The key is to validate the standard to make sure it’s the right standard for the occupation.”