War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced several changes to the department’s operations on Tuesday morning during a speech in front of hundreds of senior military leaders in Quantico, Virginia.
“The military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things in many ways. This speech is about fixing decades of decay, some of it obvious, some of it hidden,” he said.
The secretary announced that the military services would enforce shaving standards, which had been relaxed in recent years, and physical fitness standards. He specifically said physical standards for combat MOS and combat arms positions will return to the “highest male standard only.”
“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in a combat unit with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men, or troops who are not fully proficient on their assigned weapons, platform, or task, or under a leader who was the first but not the best. Standards must be uniform, gender neutral, and high,” Hegseth said.
His address largely aligns with his comments and decisions from before and during his tenure as secretary. He touched on diversity initiatives in the Pentagon, transgender ideology, and wokeness — all of which are subjects he has taken steps to end.
“This administration has done a great deal from Day One to remove the social justice, politically correct, and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department, to rip out the politics. No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses,” he added. “No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction, or gender delusions. No more debris.”
HEGSETH ORDERS RARE MEETING WITH HUNDREDS OF SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine addressed the hundreds of senior leaders who traveled to Virginia ahead of the secretary, and President Donald Trump is expected to speak after him.
Hundreds of service members were in attendance for his speech, many of whom had to travel from overseas.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
