iscover
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a massive “clean-up” of military fitness standards during a speech to US military leadership.
The US Secretary made the comments during an address to General and flag officers at Quantico in Virginia on 30 September.
The address was attended by joint chiefs, generals, admirals, commanders, officers, senior enlisted, non-commissioned officers (NCO), enlisted and other members of the American military.
As expected, the US Secretary of War took personal focus to “end the era of politically correct and overly sensitive policy”.
“Standards must be met … At every level, we should seek to exceed the standard, to push the envelope, to compete,” he said.
“Today, at my direction, we are adding a combat field test for combat arms units that must be executable in any environment at any time and with combat equipment.
“These tests, they’ll look familiar. They’ll resemble the Army Expert Physical Fitness Assessment or the Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test. I’m also directing that warfighters in combat jobs execute their service fitness test at a gender-neutral age normed male standard scored above 70 per cent.
“It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the secretary of war can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force.
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops.
“Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”
In a series of targeted changes, Secretary Hegseth confirmed that all personnel would have to meet their respective physical training requirements, with a PT test twice a year. He also outlawed beards for US military personnel, unless specially exempt.
“So, whether you’re an airborne ranger or a chairborne ranger, a brand new private or a four-star general, you need to meet the height and weight standards and pass your PT test,” he said.
“Every warrior across our joint force is required to do PT every duty day. It should be common sense.
“At every level, from the joint chiefs to everyone in this room to the youngest private, leaders set the standard.
“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards.
“Because it’s like the broken windows theory in policing. It’s like you let the small stuff go, the big stuff eventually goes, so you have to address the small stuff. This is on duty, in the field and in the rear. If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave.
“We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans … The era of unprofessional appearance is over.
“No more beardos. The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done. Simply put, if you do not meet the male level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position or a new profession.”
Secretary Hegseth also took aim at the US military’s “zero defect” command culture, which he claimed had led to a risk-averse culture for officers.
“A risk-averse culture means NCOs are not empowered to enforce standards. Commanders and NCOs don’t take necessary risks or make tough adjustments for fear of rocking the boat or making mistakes,” he said.
“I’m issuing new policies that will overhaul the IG, EO and MEO processes. I call it the no more walking on eggshells policy. We are liberating commanders and NCOs. We are liberating you. We are overhauling an inspector general process, the IG, that has been weaponised, putting complainers, ideologues and poor performers in the driver’s seat.
“No more frivolous complaints. No more anonymous complaints. No more repeat complainants. No more smearing reputations. No more endless waiting. No more legal limbo. No more sidetracking careers.
“Of course, being a racist has been illegal in our formation since 1948. The same goes for sexual harassment. Both are wrong and illegal. Those kinds of infractions will be ruthlessly enforced. But telling someone to shave or get a haircut or to get in shape or to fix their uniform or to show up on time, to work hard, that’s exactly the kind of discrimination we want.”
During the address, the US Secretary of War also announced that the department would affirm a policy of “merit-based, colour-blind, gender-neutral” promotions to identify top performing officers and non-commission officers. It’s uncertain how much impact, if any, this change in policy may have on officer selection boards within the US military.
“For too long, we’ve promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons, based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts,” he said.
“No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions. No more debris.”
Along the same lines of gender-neutral policy, Secretary Hegseth also announced that the department would not continue with separate fitness programs for female and male troops.
“War does not care if you’re a man or a woman. Neither does the enemy, nor does the weight of your rucksack, the size of an artillery round or the body weight of a casualty on the battlefield who must be carried,” he said.
“This is not about preventing women from serving. We very much value the impact of female troops. Our female officers and NCOs are the absolute best in the world.
“But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender-neutral.
“If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result … It will also mean that weak men won’t qualify because we’re not playing games. This is combat. This is life or death.”
In a possible funding change, the administration will focus on “training and maintaining” by reducing the amount of mandatory training for individuals and units.
“We’re giving you back real time; less PowerPoint briefings and fewer online courses, more time in the motor pool and more time on the range,” he said.
“Our job is to make sure you have the money, equipment, weapons and parts to train and maintain, and then you take it from there.”
Such a change could require more investment from the US Department of Defense to cover ammunition, range expenses as well as parts and equipment.
The US Secretary of War also announced his intentions to change the conditions of basic training for the US military. He stated that ‘“drill sergeants will be empowered to instil healthy fear in new recruits” in a reasonable way to ensure recruits are proficient enough to engage an enemy threat.
“Yes, they can shark attack, they can toss bunks, they can swear, and yes, they can put their hands on recruits,” he confirmed during the address.
“This does not mean they can be reckless or violate the law, but they can use tried-and-true methods to motivate new recruits, to make them the warriors they need to be.
“The nature of the evolving threat environment demands that everyone in every job must be ready to join the fight if needed.
“We need to ensure that every member of our uniformed military maintains baseline proficiency in basic combat skills, especially because the next war, like the last, will likely not have a rear area.”
Secretary Hegseth also clarified that the US military is likely to reassess the current rules of engagement that bind their soldiers and leadership.
“We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralise, hunt and kill the enemies of our country,” he said.
“No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters.”
This update would have critical consequences for new encounters between US military and the People’s Republic of China military forces in the South China Sea. At times, these encounters have blurred the line between active military intervention and routine patrols.
In a possible warning to Australia, Secretary Hegseth also announced that US President Donald Trump was “getting our allies and partners to step up and share the burden” in regard to defence industrial bases, shipbuilding and manufacturing of critical war components.
In a moment of hilarity, the US Secretary of War also made reference to the popular online phrase “FAFO” or “fuck around and found out”, which is commonly used to describe an act of rightful retaliatory retribution when faced with a threat.
“Should our enemies choose foolishly to challenge us, they will be crushed by the violence, precision and ferocity of the War Department. In other words, to our enemies, FAFO,” he said.
