WASHINGTON — War Secretary Pete Hegseth harangued a near-unprecedented gathering of America’s top generals and admirals Tuesday, announcing that combat troops must meet “male-level” fitness levels, to face “life and death” situations.
If women — and “weak men” — don’t meet those standards, “so be it,” Hegseth said in remarks at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations — and frankly any formations — and see fat troops,” he went on. “It’s unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon, and leading all around the world.
“It’s a bad look, and it’s not who we are!”
Hegseth’s fitness directive will be sent out to each branch of the service and will highlight new mandates and standards for service members.
Combat forces will have to do “real hard” physical training every day and undergo two tests each year to ensure they are up to the “highest male standard.”
Hegseth, 45, has occasionally been filmed joining troops for physical training, even challenging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a “Pete and Bobby Challenge” to inspire Americans to pursue fitness.
“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in combat units 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 platformer tasks, or under a leader who was ‘the first’ but not ‘the best,’” the secretary said.
“Standards must be uniform, gender-neutral and high. If not, they’re not standards. They’re just suggestions. Suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.”
Hegseth also charged that too many members of the military were promoted based on their identities, and not merit.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” he said, inviting any brass who disagreed with his approach to “do the honorable thing and resign.”
“More leadership changes will be made,” Hegseth promised. “Of that, I’m certain.”
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