Biden at West Point: Diversity on battlefield an ‘incredible asset’

Vice President Biden advocated for diversity in the armed forces Saturday, telling West Point graduates in a commencement address that more women and openly gay soldiers will strengthen the country’s armed forces. 

{mosads}”Having men and women together in the battlefield is an incredible asset, particularly when they’re asked to lead teams in parts of the world with fundamentally different expectations and norms,” Biden said, according to The Associated Press.

The first seven women commissioned into combat divisions graduated Saturday.

Biden also saluted class president Eugene “E.J.” Coleman for coming out as gay. 

Before the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was reversed, Biden said, “E.J. would have been discharged from the Army, and we would have lost an incredible talent,” he said. “Thanks for your courage, E.J., and I expect we’re going to hear big things from you, pal.”