Alexander Kubitza
Pete Hegseth, a former Major in the National Guard, was voted in with JD Vance's tie-breaking vote as the 29th US Secretary of Defense in November 2024.
Calling together nearly 800 senior military officers and senior active-duty enlistments, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave a speech aimed at forming a revised identity for the U.S. military. Summoned on short notice to the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, attendees listened to multiple new directives centered on changing the culture set over the last few decades.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don’t hurt anyone’s feelings leadership ends right now,” Hegseth said. “Either you can meet the standard, either you can do the job, either you are disciplined, fit, and trained, or you are out.”
Gender-Neutral Physical Fitness Standards
The main focal point of Hegseth’s speech was the changing of physical fitness standards for combat roles. Every member, of every rank, in active duty roles must complete two physical training tests annually. Hegseth emphasized creating a high, gender-neutral standard, focused on keeping soldiers physically apt to succeed in combat situations. Fresno Christian student Colton Crain, ‘27, is highly interested in joining the U.S. Army due to his family’s legacy in the military.
“I think the whole change is great and should have been like that from the start,” Crain said. “Men and women should have the same requirements, especially because they are going into battle together. Women need to be able to protect themselves and function in war just like how others do.”
Whether or not the change of standards will help strengthen the military is controversial among civilian opinions. Fortunately, former Marine Corporal, Army Sergeant, FC parent and substitute teacher, Joey Medina, shares insight from more than 15 years in the military.
“I think the ‘new’ standards may hurt the strength of our military at first, weeding out those who are not disciplined, who refuse to meet standards, or who are just generally not able to comply,” Medina said. “However, I believe that, in the long term, these standards will improve the readiness and effectiveness of our military forces. These ‘new’ standards actually used to be the standards when I began my service in the Marine Corps. They still had a gender differential, but the standards were high and intentional. ‘Fat Bodies’ were not tolerated.”
The Army Fitness Test, or AFT, was first implemented on June 1, 2025. There are five different events: three repetition max deadlift, hand release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and a two-mile run. In order to pass, an individual must score at least 60 points on each exercise and complete with a total score of 350 or higher. Currently, grading is based on age and gender. This will change, however, on January 1, 2026, when Hegseth’s high, gender-neutral minimums go into effect.
New Policy on Beards
Across the joint force, facial hair limits are to be enforced more sternly. Previously, men were allowed to have beards if they had medical proof of a condition preventing them from shaving. Under Hegseth’s new initiative, service members who have had a beard due to medical conditions for over a year will be removed from the military. This allows soldiers with a condition a full year to find and administer medical treatment.
“We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” Hegseth said. “It’s like the broken windows theory of policing, when you let the small stuff go, the big stuff eventually goes, so you have to address the small stuff.”
Exceptions for religion are still in effect, with proper documentation and approval still a requirement. In other cases, such as special forces or units stationed in winter environments, beards may be permitted by the unit’s leader.
Reduction of excessive required training
Soldiers have been required to complete tedious PowerPoint training and online courses to maintain non-combat skills and knowledge. However, these excessive trainings take up valuable time for real-life warfighting practice. Hegseth’s goal is to keep the service war-ready at all times.
“Any moment that we are not training on our mission, or maintaining our equipment, is a moment we are less prepared for preventing or winning the next war,” Hegseth said. “Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer online courses, more time in the motor pool and more time on the range.”
New leadership ethos
Throughout his speech, Hegseth introduced a new rule of thumb for how to lead a unit. The new motto of “Do unto your unit as you would have done unto your own child’s unit” forces authority to take a second look at the leadership tactics they are using. The goal is to create an environment where high standards are firmly established and met, creating a formidable fighting force.
Hegseth addresses the label of “toxic leadership,” stating that real toxic leadership promotes people based on quotas instead of merit, and involves low standards that ultimately endanger subordinates. In contrast, the Department of War encourages leaders to uphold high standards and lead their units in the right direction.
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