Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters)
The secretary said that now, "every member of the joint force at every rank is required to take a test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year, every year of service." Additionally, members of the joint force will be required to do PT [physical training] every duty day, something Hegseth said is standard in many units but would be officially codified.
"If the Secretary of War can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force," he said.
Hegseth railed against "fat troops" and "fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon," arguing that physical standards for American service members had eroded, and it was time to raise the bar.
HEGSETH VOWS TO REBUILD MILITARY DETERRENCE SO ENEMIES 'DON'T WANT TO F--- WITH US'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth greets Commandant of the Army War College Major General David Hill as he arrives to deliver remarks to students, faculty and staff at the U.S. Army War college on April 23, 2025 in Carlisle, Pa. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
AIR FORCE TIGHTENS RULES ON TRANSGENDER AIRMEN; SUPPORTERS SAY IT PRIORITIZES READINESS: REPORT
The other part of the shift that Hegseth announced included further steps to root out "toxic ideological garbage" from the department.
"No more identity months, DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions," he said. "As I've said before, and I'll say again, we are done with that s---."
Further denouncing of wokeness in the military, Hegseth announced major changes aimed at offering leaders second chances. He said that the Department of War was well-aware that mistakes would be made with the new directives, and, as such, he also would be implementing changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records. This means that leaders with "forgivable, earnest, or minor infractions" on their records will not spend the rest of their careers paying for those mistakes, allowing them to take control without fear.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Quantico, Va. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Throughout his address to military leadership, Hegseth made it clear that the reestablishment of the Department of War was more than a name change; it was also a major shift in policy.
"The era of the Department of Defense is over," he declared. "From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: War fighting. Preparing for war and preparing to win."
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-instates-highest-male-standard-only-combat-other-changes-declaring-dept-defense-is-over