In The News – Former SEAL Commander and Representative-Elect Ryan Zinke
“Congress today (December 4th) tapped 23 years of military leadership by selecting Navy veteran and former commander at SEAL Team Six, Congressman-elect Ryan Zinke (MT-00), to serve on the House Committee on Armed Services. As one of the first Navy SEAL’s to be elected to Congress, Zinke’s decades of experience serving in the Navy will better equip the Committee to understand and respond to military threats, as well as the needs of our military members serving around the globe and their families. Zinke was also selected to serve on the House Committee on Natural Resources, which is critical to growing Montana’s economy and protecting our way of life.
The following statement was issued by Congressman-elect Ryan Zinke on his appointment to the Armed Services Committee:
“It was an honor to serve our nation as a Navy SEAL, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve all of our military members and their families as a new member of the House Armed Services Committee. I will use my 23 years of experience in the military to advocate for our service members and ensure that we are doing everything in our power to ensure they have the tools necessary to carry out their missions as safely as possible–and that includes expanding the mission of Malstrom Air Force Base, one of only three Air Force bases in the nation with intercontinental Minuteman III Missile capabilities.””*
“The political handling of military affairs, from rules of engagement, to micromanagement of low-level officers, and military culture, are devoid of the interests and effectiveness of “our people who get the job done,” according to Zinke. He plans to provide that perspective when he is sworn into office and assumes his position on the House Armed Services Committee.
“I’m going to push back against making decisions based on politics, rather than what is right for the mission,” he said. “When it comes to the battlefield, it’s the military’s job to win and win decisively.”
He was wary of political games during his time in the Navy and disagreed wholeheartedly with the “hand tying micromanagement” he and his team were forced to abide. Zinke wants to limit the scope of the rules of engagement to give soldiers flexibility in the fight and protect them from prosecution “for making a judgment call” on the battlefield.
“It’s causing a loss of life,” he said.
Zinke is more motivated than ever to carry the banner for soldiers; his daughter is a retired Navy diver, his son-in-law an active duty SEAL.
“You don’t fight wars with admirals and generals. I’m going to champion the enlisted and junior leadership … our people who get the job done,” he said.”**
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