Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), the longest-serving enlisted military member ever elected to Congress, defended enhanced U.S. military standards, arguing they are crucial for national security. Speaking on Breitbart News Daily, Van Orden dismissed claims that new standards are intended to exclude women, calling such arguments “a red herring” and “baloney.”
Van Orden, a member of both the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, emphasized that the standards are designed to ensure that only those fit for ground combat serve in those roles. “It’s geared to keep people who don’t belong in ground combat out of ground combat, so that you don’t sacrifice the other people that are there who are qualified,” he said.
He stressed that the military’s mission must remain focused on readiness and effectiveness, not political correctness. “The Chinese Communist Party doesn’t care what your pronouns are,” Van Orden stated, warning that America’s adversaries prioritize strength, not social experiments.
Van Orden further argued that military service is fundamentally about collective mission and sacrifice, not about individual identity or personal agendas. “In SEAL teams, it’s not about us. It’s not even about your platoon or your team. It’s about America,” he said. Van Orden called for a return to a mindset that prioritizes country over self, both in the military and within Congress.
The congressman’s remarks come as debate continues over the role of diversity initiatives and social policies within the armed forces. Van Orden’s strong stance reflects growing concerns among conservatives that weakening standards in favor of political objectives could endanger military effectiveness and national security.
