Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
In a blunt, no-nonsense address to hundreds of generals, admirals, and senior leaders, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the era of the Department of Defense over.
In its place, he announced the restored Department of War, focused solely on what he described as the military’s one true mission: “war fighting, preparing for war, and preparing to win.”
Gathering the nation’s top military leadership at Marine Corps Base Quantico in an unprecedented “all-hands” meeting, Hegseth laid out a sweeping agenda to roll back decades of what he called “decay, distraction, and political nonsense.”
Table of contents
Back to Warfighting Basics
U.S. Army soldiers dress up as drag queens while wearing uniform.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 27, 2023
As previously reported, the Navy also hired a drag queen to help with recruitment.
Our enemies are laughing at us. pic.twitter.com/krEC5uOSTB
Hegseth’s message was clear: the U.S. military exists to fight and win wars — not to chase social experiments.
Quoting George Washington and Reagan, he emphasized “peace through strength,” warning that America’s adversaries are already aligned, and the U.S. must respond with overwhelming unity and lethality.
“Pacifism is naive and dangerous,” Hegseth said. “Either you protect your people and your sovereignty, or you will be subservient to something or someone.”
Standards, Not Suggestions
Much of the speech hammered on restoring strict standards across the force — physical, cultural, and professional. Hegseth said the era of lowered expectations was over:
- No More Beard-Os: Beards, long hair, and “individual expression” are out. “If you want a beard, join special forces. If not, then shave.”
- Fitness First: Every service member, from privates to four-star generals, must pass PT twice a year and meet strict height and weight requirements. “It’s tiring to look out at formations and see fat troops,” Hegseth said.
- One Standard for Combat Arms: Jobs that demand physical strength will return to 1990-level standards — gender-neutral, male baseline. “If women can make it, excellent. If not, so be it. Weak men won’t make it either. This is life or death.”
- Merit Over Quotas: Promotions will be based solely on merit, not race, gender, or politics. “Colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based. That’s it.”
Clearing Out the “Woke Debris”
Marines say they hit recruiting goals and point to ‘unapologetic’ standards 🔥 https://t.co/tFw8WiFrSb
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025
Hegseth blasted the prior culture of DEI, social justice priorities, and risk-averse leadership. He promised to free commanders and NCOs from what he called a “walking on eggshells” culture created by weaponized IG and EO complaints.
“Upholding and demanding high standards is not toxic leadership,” he said. “Real toxic leadership is promoting quotas instead of merit, or pushing destructive ideologies that weaken our force.”
He called the reforms “liberation day for America’s warriors.”
Training Like It’s 1990
Our tax dollars are being spent on paying active-duty military drag queens to…and I quote… “attract youth to the military”. pic.twitter.com/j8gU7lLtLq
— No One 🇺🇸 (@tweettruth2me) May 4, 2023
Another pillar of the speech was restoring tough, realistic training. Mandatory PowerPoints and online courses will be slashed, replaced with more time in the motor pool, on ranges, and in the field.
Basic training will return to its old-school roots: “scary, tough, and disciplined.”
SEE ALSO: Jacob Grey Drops the Nox 9
Drill sergeants will once again be empowered to instill fear, toughness, and warrior ethos. “Every Marine a rifleman” will once again be the baseline across all services.
Personnel Is Policy
Perhaps most striking was Hegseth’s admission that senior leadership changes will continue. Many officers tied to the “woke era” have already been fired.
“It’s nearly impossible to change a culture with the same people who helped create it,” he said. He urged any leader who couldn’t embrace the new direction to “do the honorable thing and resign.”
In their place, Hegseth pledged to elevate “Stockdales, Schwarzkopfs, and Pattons” — leaders focused on combat, not politics.
Why It Matters
The speech marks a seismic cultural shift in America’s military. By reviving the Department of War in name and mission, Hegseth and President Trump are signaling an unapologetic return to combat readiness, lethal force, and unapologetic warrior culture.
“We are warriors,” Hegseth concluded. “We fight not because we hate what’s in front of us, but because we love what’s behind us. Lethality is our calling card, and victory is our only acceptable end state.”
For the rank-and-file, the message is clear: no more excuses, no more politics, no more beard-os.
What say you? Do you like this return to a classic military culture?
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Whiskey Pete really likes men…like, a LOT.
It all sounds great but it will take many many years to undo all the damage done. If we don’t vote out the idiots and the beardo’s get the numbers, they can just put it back.
GREAT!
Hell yeah, bout time!!! I served from 77 to 90 Army field artillery! Seeing what happened to our military with all the woke gender bending bull stuff!! Just breakes my heart. If our country is a reflection of our military 🎖️🪖 we are screwed!! I saw a comment from someone claiming that enforcing a no beard law would endanger a lot of lives! Really, have you ever had to dawn a gas mask and live in mop for for days so you would die from the crap in the air?? Try that with a beard, that’s if you know what a gas mask is…
Say what you want. He is correct. I served 20 years and I like the new direction
What Sec. Pete Hegseth proposes is absolutely true and long term needed. I was serving in a NATO allied Country, At the time of the nadir of the Cold War. My Airborne Brigade was Commanded by Senior and Warrant Officers who as young men fought in one of the most decisive battles of WW2, El Alamein, Nov 42′. Men of exceptional courage and metal mettle, even Wiston Churchill called them ”The Lions of El Alamein”. These men had designed the fitness and courage test to be admitted to the three month long Airborne Badge. As a footnote, due to the deterrent need vs the ComBlock, Camp Darby, the largest US NATO base in the Med Sea, was located in the midst of the most commie voting area of the country. The Pentagon asked that a local ”Praetorian Guards” would keep watch to the outer perimeter of the base to prevent any act of sabotage against it, our Brigade was then deployed for the job. The GIs were allowed and invited to take the test, even then the regular soldiers could not pass it, only the US Rangers could and think that the test was applied also to green draftee coming out of civilian life. Morale, Hegseth should understand that even prior to1990 the basic fitness test for the regular GI soldier was under par compared to that of a NATO ally.
Raff Genovesi (Master Serg Ret. Lightning Brigade NATO)
George Armstrong Custer, Robert Edward Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, all General, all Beard-Os.
And that was before there was chemical warfare. You don’t know much, do you?
to all who hate this…..
there is a reason for shaving, to stay world wide deployable! as far as fitness try staying up 48 hrs straight and do your physical job, hell just getting equipment ready and loaded is a hell of a job then standing in line verifying paperwork, shots, wills and such with all your gear would make most civilians drop….so join and find out the reality of it all!
Hell yeah!
George Armstrong Custer, Robert Edward Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman all Bread-Os.
You can repeat it all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that now there is warfare that includes various types of incapacitating gas, germ warfare, nuclear warfare with deadly poisonous air and fallout. None of the War of Northern Aggression generals had to worry about that. Tell ya what, go to your local sheriff and ask if you can go through CS (tear gas) training. Make sure you have a full beard. Then see what happens when you try to don your face mask. And remember, at least then, you’ll know it’s coming.
I never served, all us civilians hear different things about this and that in the military so, what I was told may be wrong so, please clarify if so. I want to say I was maybe 16-18yrs old. I’ve always had a short hair cut, always preferred it that way. Almost every time I’d leave the barber, first people I’d see would all say the same. “Got your haircut again, huh? High and tight as usual” or, “you leaving for bootcamp tomorrow?” It’s just a little more styled crew cut. I cannot even remember who it was who said this but, something about that “high and tight like the military” came up, this person was/is in the military and for whatever reason, I asked why they shave people’s heads when they do enlist. Again, I do not know how true this is but, that person said, We keep our hair short and shave so your gas mask gets the right seal. Add hair and you’re leaving openings.”
Although that did make 100% sense, is that really the “why” behind it? I just always assumed it was so everyone looked uniformed but, maybe it’s a 2 birds with one stone type deal? Just curious how true that was.
Sorry, but this whole Woke thing is about Mind Control Major Tom! Take a word and weaponize it, and what do you get? Think of it like A Box Of chocolates man, or simply Think! What is the opposite of Woke? Fill in the blank ___________, but you have to b awake to think about it. Free Your Mind B Party Blind! Our 2 main parties are simply trying to control us. That is like grade school stuff, as is junking up a word like Woke, but it is working, so Think 4 Yourself, and what is good for All Of Us in Our USA, and not just for The So Called Ruling Class-less. Enough Said.
He is not the Defense Secretary! He is the Secretary of WAR. Nobody ever won a war by being defensive. That is why the title was changed back to what it started out as.
Tough talk, but walk the walk.
Is Pete Hegseth going to personally PT the commander-in-chief?
Is Pete Hegseth going to personally shave J.D. Vance?
I’m not in the military so maybe I don’t I understand how it works, but why is a major lecturing generals and admirals?
You wouldn’t have a mid-level manager telling CEOs how to run their companies.
The generals and admirals did not look amused with the clown show on the stage.
Those are fair questions. The US military is ultimately run by civil authorities with the POTUS also serving as the Commander in Chief set forth by Article II Section 2 of the US Constitution. Immediately below the CinC is former Army Captain Pete Hegseth serving as the Secretary of War. Below the Secretary of War are the Commanders of the various branches of the military. Many times, there are Generals and Admirals that believe they should ignore the Supreme Law of the Land and run the US. Those officers think they are as powerful as the un-Constitutional CIA.
To be fair most companies would run smoother is mid management was allowed to speak freely on the results of systems implemented by the C suite.
Obviously since you seem ignorant on how things work. Maybe sit this one out and let the adults discuss.
Before I state my take on the civilian War Secretary’s address to our Generals and Senior Enlisted it comes from a not interested in the Vietnam War at all, but got drafted into the Army during my last weeks of College. I wanted another fire season as a smokejumper before entering the Army, but was supposed to go to boot camp in two weeks. I offered to serve another year in the Army if they would let me have 3 months off before having to go to boot camp. They said the only way I could get time extended would be to go immediately to a sister service and join up with them and they would give you delayed entry date and they would call us and tell us you belonged to them. Went to all sister services, last one was the Marines. They said sure sign here and raise your right hand. I went back to being a smokejumper, then into the Corps. Turned out I liked the culture, became a 2nd Lt. Then immediately out of the wonder school sent to Vietnam as a Rifle Platoon Commander. Stayed there for 1968, 1969 and 1970. Was in much fighting, close quarters and even hand to hand with my shot up rifle platoon down to 20 guys in an assault against an entire NVA, Battalion. Alone we attacked 300 to 400 in a running gunfight through brush everyone firing back and forth after an assault directly into the run in heading of an F- 4 air strike. That was across 400 meters of open neck deep water. After the assault stopped we evacuated a wounded NVA office via an unauthorized Army Dust off after being refused a Marine Med evac. We went on our attack and came to three obvious death tunnels through the jungle which were their “Fields Of Fire”. We flew into them so fast the enemy soldiers were killed as they flew open their vegetation trap doors trying to get their guns out. With never a word said other Marines threw grenades into those spider holes and that caused other spider hole hatches to blow out blue smoke and black dirt with other enemy trying to get out they were shot down. We dominated the entire enemy base camp with none of our guys hurt and hundreds trapped under ground. That was just on deal there were many more assaults and fire fights. They sent me home when all the troop pull outs happened. Got back to Camp Pendleton for a few months then released to go back and be a smokejumper for another 23 years. Bottom line I loved being a smokejumper parachuted 526 time into rough terrain all over America and Canada’s best wild areas. However my favorite of all jobs was being with those kids, the 18 and 19 year old high school football guys and the juvenile delincwits who were standing in front of some Soujthern Judge making the clear choice of either prison or the Marine Corps. Hanging out with those guys and having more laughs during my 3 years in Vietnam than in any other 10 years of civilian life. That was the honor of my life, being with them. One time I had two of my three squads down wounded in a mine field where the less wounded guys crawling over trying to help the more in terror calm down and stop the bleeding for them. Some making wise cracks and laughing about their lot, and the countless times they they saved me, and their pals from certain death. That is what fills my heart with gratitude every night. Today I’m a disabled vet not very dollar heavy. When I go to a veterans Clinic and VA Hospital and see a man in woman’s clothes and wearing make up I get angry and more dissapointed than anyone could possibly believe. Hegseth may have only had Second Lt. stature and experience in my eyes, but all those Flag Rank Officers deserved to be dressed down by a junior, pint sized officer by allowing the piers around them to contaminate our military. It is a tough perimid to get through all the fitness report cards in order to get to even a one star general, never mind a four star. I think we had 7 Four Stars when we had 12 million men in uniform during WWII. Not sure, but maybe 75 now. Hegseth could have been more motivating and effective if he had character built upon qualified and real combat time, but he does have enthusiasm, and trying to announce woke crap really does not work. All things considered, we really do have a pretty good system. I may be a bit biased, but for some reason there is still something going on in the Marine Corps, that keeps regular kids, and even those from disadvantaged backgrounds, loyal, incredible doers when the chip are down. They are tough on haircuts, but getting them to attack a full enemy Battalion with only a shot up rifle platoon directly into the run in heading of an airstrike, across 400 meters of open water, to cause the will of the enemy to turn and run, then blow through death for sure field of fire………The Marines have litterly shown me they really do have magic in their system……..Quantico was the right place to set thing moving toward the Marine Corps way.
As an ex plane jumper, I not only salute you, but I honor your service not only to your country, but to the inner man that allowed you to do what many others had chosen not to. The ‘Nam was one of the most relevant tragedy to befall the “”American Experiment” since its inception. George Wahington, in his Farewell address to Congress, pleaded against parties divisions, in favor of ruling by the Constitution to prevent disaccord and the weakening of the country. And here is where the snakes slither, The devious Johnson (D) was poop scared of the Chinese so dragged the war as not to lose it while sacrificing untold blood and treasure, enter Nixon a Republican, who defied the ROE and started carpet bombing he N Viets. MI6 of GB told the CIA that the strategy was being ultra successful and that N ‘nam was ready for an unconditional Armistice. Again political divisions.,.The Democrats would not allow a Republican to end what they started and couldn’t finish, cut off the funds for the war, hence the treason and besmirching instead of honoring the troops, who NEVER lost a single battle, but politicians lost the war, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
Thank you for your exceptional service, sir. I was never a smoke jumper but did serve on several wildfire details as a MUCH younger man. I think I liked Idaho the best. The territory around the Salmon River in the National Forest there is some rough country! Especially since we deployed from the lowlands in the Southeast, US. Just acclimating to the change in elevation was an experience! My home elevation was about 200 ft. msl. The first time I went to Idaho, our Base Camp was 4000 ft. msl… and we went up from there!
Years later, I was able to fly the bush country in Alaska. That was probably the best time of my life. If I hadn’t lost my medical, I might still be there. I loved Alaska, and flying low-level runs daily was about the best way to see the most of “The Great Land”! As the only pilot aboard those little birds, I tended to NOT jump out once they were airborne. I envy your experience as a smoke jumper, though. That had to be some wild times!! Once again, sir… I too, salute you and thank you for your service. You are clearly a “man’s man”, and we don’t have enough of those anymore. I hope you have many more excellent years here, and that I might get to meet you once our Savior calls us home. Semper Fi!
I enlisted in ’65. Boot was frightening. My TI’s were assholes. The routine sucked. The food sucked. Our inexperienced asses were worn out and frazzled…then we were awakened at 0230 by a pot-bellied TI banging on a garbage can and screaming, “FIRE! FIRE! Grab yer blanket and get outside (in Texas February cold/wet/wind etc)!!!” Or some other de-humanizing, belittling action like dumping out foot lockers, flipping beds, piling up our uniforms and having to sort through them, etc… 0400 boots on the ground. March march march. Digging them heels in…Memorizing the General Orders, ass-chewings/push-ups if we forget a word or phrase… I could go on ad nauseam….Now I’m almost 80… I’ve seen so many unorganized, wimpy, disrespectful, unhealthy males who are either still on the teat or “have dad in (their) back-pocket”, it’s sickening. Few, if any of them were in the military, or stayed long if they were. The self-discipline, self-motivation, and self-reliance I learned while serving my 4 years in the Viet-Nam era are invaluable to this day, and it all began by breaking down our collective “individuality” which is something today’s military branches are sorely in need of… Drag-Queens, et al, indeed have their place in society. Historically, I suppose that side-shows have been good places to start. After all, Fincochio’s in North Beach certainly drew more tourists than the homeless encampments of ‘Frisco. If they need meaningful work these days why not dress them in safety orange taffeta and send them out to work as refuse collection agents? Whatever the need they can fill, keep them the hell out of the military unless they enjoy hangin’ with the bro’s in permanent KP… WITHOUT makeup!
AMEN! LONG past time for this kind of change, NOW, lets get the same kind of fitness and discipline into our law enforcement personnel!!
Huh.
I thought Hegseth came across as a smarmy car salesman. Did y’all notice the stony silence in the room? It was like watching a coked up TV personality ranting at actual serious people.
But hey, y’all do y’all.
Listening to this drunken tatted up idiot address his betters was sickening. Fat generals? How about fat commanders in chief?
MAGA truly does stand for Morons Are Governing America
The only bad thing to this and America’s adversaries AND allies already know this is like clockwork, in four to eight years there will be new leadership in America and this will come to pass.
I can be proud to say I am a veteran once again, lol. I remember when the worst thing that was going on in the military was when women were actually agreeing that men and women should have the same PT test. And then they stated they wanted the standards lowered so they could pass them. That was a line of shit then and all this woke stuff is a line of shit now. It’s about time it ends.
Like Hegseth said this is not a social experiment it’s about defending the country and if you’re weak and you can’t handle the job then you don’t belong there.
Liberals fail to realize this isn’t any different than any job in any walk of life. If you can’t do the job to the way the standard state, then you don’t belong in the job. It’s like hiring a barista that doesn’t have any arms.
“I wont carry your ass up or down the mountain unless yer hurt!”
Hell yes! It’s about time the issues are corrected! Fight On!
Beard rule is such a dumb idea, even with best of intentions. This actually affects health and literally doesn’t have anything to do with “woke”. It seems like a joke or some bs to avoid shaving, but daily shaving does and can really affect someone’s health. Gonna lose a lot of good soldiers over this. Yeah, will really help us with combat readiness.
So this response is a little confusing… Are you for or against required shaving? Shaving does help with combat readiness final a little confused on how it affects health by not shaving?
Any ” soldier ” who drops because he is required to shave wasn’t ever a soldier to begin with
Bullshit.
I would bet (not a known fact) that the no shave chit for medical conditions will still remain in the grooming standards.
You cannot get a seal with a mask while wearing a beard. Chemical warfare is still a thing . Special forces (all of them) can sport beards mainly to blend in better.
I work in a refinery and have worked in petrochemical plants half my life, I’m sixty. Lately in my industry facial hair rules have been selectively enforced and generally lax.I look at it like a IQ test. If you work in a petrochemical plant and wear a beard you are stupid and should not procreate. Those idiots ask “do you always have a mask with you?” I reply “I don’t need to, I’ll find some idiot with a beard trying to get a seal ,take his and survive “
That is so good to hear, I am a Marine of the 1970s, Vietnam Vet. Boot camp was a terrible experience, but war was worst. If you could not make the grade, you were shit caned out. No catering to a pansy ass. The Drill Instructors were brutal and should be, to make Marines ready for combat. I look back on my service time and am thankful for the way that it made a man of me and made me ready for the real world.
R. Lee Ermey, the archetype movie DI (after Jack Webb) thanked his DI’s in real life, for the same reasons you stated. They prepared him for the world in the best way they could.
Thank you for your service.
You bet. I remember when I was in (Army) boot camp in 1969 the DI’s were brutal and scared me to death but in the end I was fit and glad.
It prepared me for my tour of Vietnam and got me home in one piece. Thanks DI’s from B11 Fort Polk, La.
Lots of vital corrections are taking place but what will happen when DC is donkey city again? You can have 4 or 8 maybe more years of sanity but that will NOT last. I never thought it would get worse than the Klintons and the came Barry Soetoro and his spouse. So that was as low as it could go, right? Wrong
it’s about time!