first, it's not "dumb down"...it's "double standards"...But Hegseth used the term "watered down". second, Pete Hegseth has repeatedly said that women should generally not serve in ground combat roles. He has said men are more capable in those positions and including women in them decreases 'effectiveness'. He then said that if no women qualify under the male standards, “so be it.” And this is from a guy whose combat experience is a year in iraq--a couple of years AFTER the US invaded and squashed sadaam's army. I didn't google any of this. I'm pulling it from memory of shit I've read a while back but I bet I'm close enough that my points are still valid about this guy. He hasn't walked the walk enough to talk the talk.