Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (formerly Department of Defense, 1947 – 2025), delivered an address Tuesday before several military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, announcing ten areas of change that will be implemented in the military to restore warrior ethos.
“My priority as Secretary of War is restoring the warrior ethos. This applies to every member of the Department, including our highly skilled civilian employees, who are oftentimes paid less than their private sector equivalents,” Hegseth told the audience. “These employees provide critical continuity in support of our Service members and act as force multipliers in defending this great Nation. We recently surveyed our civilian workforce. We heard loud and clear that personnel policies must better reflect our high-performance culture. This requires reforming how we treat both top and bottom performers. Winning organizations optimize the workforce spectrum.
Physical fitness among military servicemen will now be gauged through strict fitness testing and body composition evaluation.
“To that point, basic training is being restored to what it should be: scary, tough and disciplined,” a memo states. “We’re empowering drill sergeants to instill healthy fear in new recruits, ensuring that future war-fighters are forged.”
Hegseth cautioned against racism and sexual harassment, reminding the audience the illegality of such acts within the US military since 1948. Yet, he also maintained that discrimination is not always unlawful
“[T]elling someone to shave or get a haircut or get a shave or fix their uniform or show up on time or to work hard, that’s exactly the kind of discrimination we want.”
A memo on hazing, and other forms of misconduct, states further nuance in the definition of such terms.
“Department policy defining conduct by Service members that constitutes hazing, bullying, and harassment is overly broad, jeopardizing combat readiness, mission accomplishment, and trust in the organization.” The confusion stemming from this has prompted a 30 day review of Department definitions of these terms in order “to strike a balance, ensuring leaders have the tools necessary to foster a warrior ethos rooted in mutual respect and accountability, while also maintaining a lethal and ready Force.”
One direction from Hegseth that has caught considerable attention is a ban on facial hair, barring certain exceptions. In general, service members are required to not wear beards, except a mustache not going past the lips.
The memos can be viewed here.
