Duckworth served in the military for 23 years. In 2004, while deployed in Iraq, she was one of the first women to fly a helicopter in a combat mission. Hegseth said the military will ensure “every designated combat arms position returns to the highest male standard,” according to the Associated Press. Combat positions were first opened to women in 2016 by President Barack Obama and then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Earlier this year, the Defense Department said 4,240 military members are transgender.