Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, will weaken America’s military. His nomination is an insult to the countless women and LBGTQ+ servicemembers who have fought valiantly and sacrificed in defense of our country. In a podcast recorded earlier this month, Hegseth asserted that “we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal.” Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opened all combat roles to women in 2015. The U.S. Army Ranger School awarded the first Ranger Tabs to female graduates that same year. Women have served our country in combat, under fire, and face-to-face with America’s enemies abroad. I had the honor of leading women while deployed to southeast Afghanistan. As the commander of an attack aviation task force, I witnessed first-hand the bravery of America’s women in uniform. They flew Apache helicopters into hostile territory, operated drones that provided life-saving intelligence, and maintained aviation systems that kept us in the fight. Their presence was not a liability; it was mission-critical. Moreover, Hegseth’s comments dismiss the ultimate sacrifices women have made in service to our country. The women who died fighting in the War on Terror were not fighting for “radical social change.” They were fighting for America. To suggest that these women didn’t belong or didn’t make the military more lethal dishonors their memory and undermines the contributions of all who served alongside them. But Hegseth’s bigotry doesn’t end with women in combat. In his book The War on Warriors, Hegseth asserts that, “The establishment of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), and then ending of DADT, were just policy footholds for radical Leftists, hell-bent on even more radical social change — a full-frontal attack on almost every institution of the military.” These sentiments are as ignorant as they are insulting. I am a West Point graduate and a combat veteran who fought America’s enemies from the cockpit of my Apache helicopter. I also happen to be gay. Should I have been purged from the military? Were the soldiers who I was entrusted to lead less effective because their commander was gay? Our actions against America’s enemies in Afghanistan stand as evidence against Pete Hegseth’s claims. The fact is, identity politics doesn’t have a place in combat. What matters most is trust, leadership, and the ability to execute the mission. Women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers have proven, often in unimaginably challenging conditions, that they are up to the task. They have served honorably, led courageously, and, in many cases, given their lives for this country. Hegseth’s rhetoric isn’t just ignorant; it’s dangerous. By claiming that these servicemembers undermine military effectiveness, he perpetuates a divisive and exclusionary mindset that weakens our armed forces. Modern warfare is not won by clinging to outdated notions of who “belongs” in uniform. It is won by the bravery and patriotism of all who serve. On the grounds of moral and strategic ineptitude, the U.S. Senate should reject the nomination of Pete Hegseth. His comments dishonor those who have served. Women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers have earned their place on the battlefield and they deserve our utmost respect. Brandon Moore of Stamford (left in photo) is a former Apache helicopter Troop Commander, Bronze Star recipient, and combat veteran of the War on Terror. The views expressed here are his own and do not represent the Department of Defense.