In a bold move that’s got everyone from privates to Pentagon brass on edge, War Secretary Pete Hegseth has laid out a plan to strip away what he calls distracting progressive policies and refocus the U.S. military on its core mission: winning wars.
Fox News reported that on Tuesday, Hegseth addressed hundreds of top commanders and senior leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, unveiling a series of reforms aimed at restoring a traditional "warrior ethos" across all branches.
This wasn’t just a speech—it was a summons, with generals and flag officers from around the globe called in on just a week’s notice to hear Hegseth’s vision.
He didn’t mince words, declaring the Defense Department "dead" and rebranding it as the War Department to hammer home the military’s singular purpose.
Criticizing what he sees as years of decline, Hegseth pointed fingers at diversity programs and lowered standards for the military’s weakened state.
He argued that politicized leadership has dragged down readiness, and he’s already taken drastic steps by dismissing a dozen high-ranking general officers.
His solution? A set of 10 directives designed to rebuild the armed forces from the ground up, prioritizing toughness over what he views as unnecessary bureaucratic fluff.
Among these changes, combat standards will revert to their pre-2015 rigor, undoing adjustments made to broaden female participation. Hegseth made it clear: standards won’t bend for anyone, regardless of gender.
Fitness tests are getting a makeover too, with gender-neutral assessments administered twice yearly for every rank, from fresh recruits to four-star generals. Even grooming rules, like bans on beards and long hair, will be strictly enforced to maintain discipline.
Training is shifting gears, ditching mandatory slide presentations for more boots-on-the-ground time at weapons ranges. Basic training, Hegseth promised, will return to being "scary, tough, and disciplined," with drill sergeants given leeway to push recruits hard.
He’s also cracking down on what he calls "frivolous complaints," reshaping the role of inspector generals to empower commanders and non-commissioned officers. Terms like "toxic leadership" or "bullying," he argued, have been misused to undermine strong leaders in favor of cautious, risk-averse ones.
Drawing on history, Hegseth invoked figures like George Washington and lessons from the Roman Empire to underline his “peace through strength” philosophy. He warned of growing dangers from adversaries like China, stressing the need for deterrence through raw military power.
On the culture front, he didn’t hold back, stating, "We became the woke department. But not anymore." That line alone likely had some in the room squirming, while others nodded in quiet agreement at the promise to ditch divisive policies.
His directives aim to cut through what he sees as distractions, refocusing every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine on the gritty reality of their job. “You kill people and break things for a living,” he reminded them, rejecting the notion that warriors must always fit into polite society’s mold.
Hegseth wrapped his address with a prayer, a nod to tradition that underscored his broader push to return to core values. But before that, he issued a challenge to those who might resist his vision.
“If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” he said. It’s a stark ultimatum—either get on board with this hard-nosed overhaul or step aside for those who will.