Army National Guard veteran Sen. Joni Ernst on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s deployment of more than 5,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, saying it’s good “real-life training.”
In an interview on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” the Iowa Republican said the practice will serve soldiers well when they’re fighting overseas.
"If they are active duty soldiers it does actually provide them an opportunity for real-life training in their roles," she said. "Many of them, if they serve in logistics-type positions, they will actually be doing those missions on the border. So it is a very good skill."
Ernst — elected vice chair of the Republican Senate Conference this week, becoming the first woman in nearly a decade to serve in the Senate GOP leadership, CBS News reported — said the mission on the border is worth the cost.
"Like I said, many of them may be logistics professionals serving in our armed services," she said. "And then it gives them greater opportunity to respond quickly in those types of situations, whether they are supporting with food or body armor, whatever it might be for Border Patrol agents. It allows those Border Patrol agents to actually focus on the law enforcement duties."
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