U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged to overhaul the Pentagon's approach to military preparedness, criticizing what he called the influence of political correctness on the armed forces.

Washington

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed nearly 800 generals and admirals at a Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, calling for a reversal of what he described as decades of decline in military standards. Hegseth criticized the Pentagon's focus on political correctness and advocated for a return to strict physical fitness requirements, grooming standards, and tougher boot camp practices, even if it limits some roles for women.

President Donald Trump headlined the event, expressing support for Hegseth’s proposals and highlighting the increased use of the military for domestic duties, including deploying the National Guard to cities facing crime. The gathering drew criticism for its cost, potential security risks, and the break from the military’s tradition of non-partisanship.

Trump backs Hegseth’s call for tougher U.S. military standards

In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Top Brass, for too long, political correctness has distracted the Pentagon from preparing for war. For too long, we've promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons, based on their race, based on gender quotas. Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading, and we lost our way. We became the woke department, but not anymore. Hegseth addressed an unusual gathering of nearly all 800 generals and admirals and their top aides, flown in from around the world to a Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. Critics called the gathering of generals unnecessary, disruptive, and expensive, and with so many top leaders in one place, a dangerous security risk. The general officers, who have a tradition of non-partisanship, sat silently without applauding. The modern armed force headquartered at the Pentagon is not your father's military, but Hegseth says maybe it should be. He wants to return to the rules of the 1990s, with strict physical fitness requirements for men and women alike, even if that means no women will be able to serve in some combat roles. The grooming rules will be strict, no beards, and boot camp should be, in his word, scary. Drill sergeants are now allowed to lay hands on troops, and hazing is making a comeback. That's why today at My Direction we're undertaking a full review of the department's definitions of so-called toxic leadership, bullying, and hazing, to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second guessing. The gathering of generals was headlined by President Donald Trump, who has dramatically increased the use of the military in an unprecedented array of domestic duties, sending the National Guard to curb crime in cities such as Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military. Trump has promised the next stop for the National Guard is Portland, Oregon. John Hendren, Al Jazeera, Washington.

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