I have to admit, the meeting at Quantico today was extraordinary by any stretch of the imagination. The visuals were absolutely wild, all that cranky firepower under one roof.
I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of the idea, but it’s not my War Department either.
I also understand that this administration had a message to impart, and no better way to do it than face-to-face, to many of the people who had been actively subverting the military’s focus and becoming architects of its transformation over the past sixteen years. I’m going all the way back to Obama.
During Trump’s first term, he was being undercut at every turn imaginable, and it almost seems as if everyone in the federal bureaucracy had been in a race to outdo each other, skunking whatever plans the 45th president had.
As Marines, we had all revered Jim Mattis and thought that would be the beginning of great things for the Department of Defense and the military itself. It sadly blew apart too soon, and in the ugliest fashion possible. I don’t believe anything ever recovered from the acrimonious split between the two of them.
From that point forward, the military suffered for the constant barbs thrown its way by rabid anti-Trump forces on the outside and the underhanded dealings of Defense officials on the inside.
When Biden took over with his cadre of woke weasels, it seemed as if they already had their agents in place.
And those of us who had served watched as the mediocre social justice warriors now in command lurched from epically tragic, soul-crushing failures like Abbey Gate, to everyday debacles like the Army or Air Force not being able to feed its troops in garrison, to trans ‘rights,’ pronoun lessons, and drag queens to whatever the hell this crap was.
Democrats: “Pete Hegseth is an embarrassment to our military.”
Also Democrats: pic.twitter.com/KpFabXoA0P— Morning Answer (@MorningAnswer) September 30, 2025
We veterans withered away inside.
As did the services, with everyone save the Marine Corps barely making or missing recruiting quota after quota for the past three years, and my beloved Corps only squeaking through by the hair of its chinny chin chin.
There was a fresh whiff of change in the air last summer, with the chance of a repeat Trump presidency. Only this time, having been burned, the man was coming in knowing exactly what he wanted to do.
The virtue signalers were not on his consultant Rolodex, and the men who had been expendable for speaking out were. The Matt Lohmeiers, the Stuart Schellers.
Warrior mentality veterans who had spent time in Afghanistan or Iraq – not brass who moved those folks around…or left them.
So, November 5th arrived, Trump triumphed, and the recruiting numbers immediately increased.
It felt like you could tell someone safely again that the military might well be the way for a young person to go.
Hegseth was a wild ass choice, but it fits.
He’s stumbled more than once, and people will point, complaining he’s not a corporate guy. Hasn’t run a defense firm or been a commanding general.
Yeah.
Where did those guys get us all these years?
Hell, Lloyd Austin, you couldn’t find him for days at a time, let alone mind the mess he made of things and the fool he looked at times.
Maybe it was a blessing he’d drop out of sight.
Don’t even get me started on Thoroughly Modern Milley. *spits*
One of the tangential things that Hegseth’s meeting with the brass today reveals is just how low the American public’s opinion of the the military’s senior uniformed leadership has fallen.
Overall, the public still reveres the US military as an institution.
But never before in…
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) September 30, 2025
…Overall, the public still reveres the US military as an institution.
But never before in my lifetime have the generals and admirals themselves been held in such widespread, low regard in both the civilian and veteran communities.
I think Milley’s stunt of telling the Chicoms that he had their back against Trump was the turning point that revealed the rot to the public.
If I was a serving general or admiral today I would reflect long and hard on how such a stellar reputation could have fallen so far so fast.
Or Army Secretary Christine Warmuth, who despised America’s traditional ‘warrior caste.’
Hegseth isn’t professional enough?
Against those clowns alone, he’s a sterling pick who loves this country.
For the statement causing the most heartburn today, laid out in front of all the brass so there’d be no mistaking the Sec War’s intent, no misinterpretation of an email, I give him full marks for plain speaking.
Pete Hegseth brought every General & Admiral from around the world into 1 room to tell them this:
“No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship
We are done with that shit” pic.twitter.com/SRgUwmaeAa
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 30, 2025
New sheriff and a single marching order.
…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.”
As for some of the other highlights?
No more food blisters.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declares war on fat pic.twitter.com/M7El6KyZjM
— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) September 30, 2025
What I’ve heard and read so far has me simply saying, ‘Hey! It’s 1980 again!‘
Because that’s exactly what all this is. He didn’t come up with a damn thing new.
Hegseth went back to what worked.
🚨RECAP: Sec of War Pete Hegseth’s massive military overhaul, announced to 800+ generals, terminates “woke” policies for a “warrior ethos.” Key changes:
-Combat roles revert to pre-2015 male standards; bi-annual fitness tests for all.
-Strict grooming: No beards, long hair, or… pic.twitter.com/njYcfKf1MN
— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) September 30, 2025
…-Combat roles revert to pre-2015 male standards; bi-annual fitness tests for all.
-Strict grooming: No beards, long hair, or “gender delusions.”
-Hazing/bullying redefined to protect leaders; Promote tough as nails leaders
-DEI offices, identity months axed—no more “climate worship.”
-Rules of engagement loosened for “maximum lethality.”
-Dozen generals fired; more cuts coming for dissenters.
-Training shifts to field drills; basic training gets “scary, tough.”
The standards that not only won battles, humped mountains, and traversed brutal jungles with 70-pound packs, but also saved lives as they fought.
Carried their brothers away from the danger.
HEGSETH: “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is.”
“It will also mean that weak men won’t qualify, because we’re not playing games.”
“This is combat. This is life or death.”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) September 30, 2025
This is going to be the rudest shock imaginable for someone who enlisted because of the Army’s ‘My Two Mothers‘ commercial.
Pete Hegseth: “The US military is supposed to be a killing machine, not a jobs program for malcontents.”
Americans: “Hell yes!”
Leftwing media: “OMG He’s a fascist!!”
— RBe (@RBPundit) September 30, 2025
I don’t have a problem with it. Ebola tells me the Air Force may actually begin qualifying all its airmen with weapons. Previously, he’s only gotten to touch one when he was on his way to Afghanistan or Djibouti. I’m assuming that was because they felt the need to spend money on weapons training for airfield types was unnecessary. Much rather have the geegaws.
It can be very necessary to have some familiarity with weapons, if only once a year, if the unthinkable happens, as the ‘air winger’ Marines at Camp Bastion proved in 2012.
EVERY MARINE A RIFLEMAN
…Camp Bastion was a massive military base established by the British and later expanded to include US Marines and Afghan forces. Spanning 40 square miles with a 25-mile fence line, the base was situated in one of the most volatile regions of Afghanistan. The base’s sheer size and strategic importance made it a prime target for the Taliban, who were deeply entrenched in the surrounding poppy fields, a key source of their funding.
The Taliban meticulously planned their assault on Camp Bastion for over a year. Originally scheduled for July 2012, the attack was postponed due to an accidental explosion during training. The final assault was executed on a particularly dark night, leveraging the element of surprise. Fifteen Taliban fighters infiltrated the base, aiming to destroy aircraft and kill as many Marines as possible.
What made this attack unique was the Taliban’s approach. Unlike their usual tactics of using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), this was a ground assault. The fighters carried rifles and RPGs, prepared for direct combat—a rare and bold move for the Taliban.
The Marines stationed at Camp Bastion demonstrated exceptional valor and quick thinking. Upon hearing the initial explosions, they initially assumed it was a controlled detonation. However, they quickly realized the gravity of the situation and sprang into action. Despite the chaos and darkness, the Marines mobilized, formed defensive positions, and protected civilians on the base.
One of the most remarkable aspects of their response was the transition of Aviation Marines into infantry roles. Trained to handle crises, they put down their wrenches and picked up rifles, showcasing the versatility and preparedness ingrained in Marine training. Their swift and coordinated actions prevented what could have been a catastrophic loss of life and equipment.
An attack can happen at any time, and if the service is seriously considering training their airmen?
Nothing but good comes of it.
Kids are awful proud of those badges when they get them, too.
We can have a ‘military’ again, and I believe this is an important first step. Uniform requirements across the board, like it used to be.
The recruits enlisting now are doing so because they want to serve, not for college or to pay for their transition to a different sex.
To serve your country.
Hegseth has one helluva job in front of him, cleaning out the entrenched remnants of virtue signalers. They have had so long to grow roots, and an entire generation of NCOs and company-grade officers have only known THIS military.
I wish him the best because he is in charge of the best in the world.
I know he knows that.
.@SecWar Pete Hegseth FULL REMARKS at the WAR DEPARTMENT ADDRESS: pic.twitter.com/dbvmQg3FT6
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) September 30, 2025
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