Hegseth: "every warrior across our joint force is required to do PT [physical training] every duty day"

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

US military to adopt highest male standards for combat https://share.google/TfUZTYVy8kJNL3Cn7

“I’m also directing that warfighters in combat jobs execute their service fitness test at a gender-neutral age norm, male standard scored above 70 percent,” Hegseth added. 

Apart from raising the physical standards, his speech also touched on having promotions within the military being “merit-based,” with “lethality” considered above all.

The Defense secretary also announced that every service member, regardless of rank, will be required to take the physical assessment twice a year, along with meeting weight and height requirements during every year of service.

“Today, at my direction, every warrior across our joint force is required to do PT [physical training] every duty day. Should be common sense. Most units do that already, but we’re codified, and we’re not talking like hot yoga and stretching. Real hard. PT, either as a unit or as an individual, at every level, from the Joint Chiefs to everyone in this room to the youngest private. Leaders set the standard,” Hegseth said.

[NCDem47]

1. WHAT?!?!?

You must cause death "lethality" to get a promotion? In what context was this used?

[haele]

10. Define "lethality"

Lethal meaning you can kill someone? Or you have killed another person?
As to the first, even disabled, I can kill someone.
With most projectile weapons, with my walking stick, with my knowledge of physics, by setting a trap, by poisoning someone...I may not have strength, but have a brain, and I can use it.
As for the second, I doubt Kegsbreath meets that definition, unless he haunts dark country roads looking for impaired transients to beat up or lynch and has managed to kill a few along the way.

[Hekate]

24. The way he describes things, the phrase War Crimes comes to mind

[John1956PA]

34. In the syndicate, they refer to it as "making bones."

[Silent Type]

2. Saw a few clips of Hegseth-the-Crusader saying "fat" generals are no longer acceptable. I bet they are all ticked for

being called from across the world to listen to such BS.

The CNN pundits were having a hard time not laughing.

[karynnj]

41. All levels. Didn't someone claim to be in the military as CIC?

Not sure he meets weight requirement and can't imagine him doing "PT".

[regnaD kciN]

55. "No more fat troops!..."

“…And fat commanders are a disgrace to the military! Now, let me introduce the commander-in-chief.”

[newdeal2]

3. Does golf count?

Just asking for a certain CIC who plays everyday and wins every senior tournament trophy.

[qazplm135]

4. PT every day

Is silly. Are they going to PT during training exercises? Even infantry units I served in didn't PT every single day.

[SheltieLover]

5. Will traitor in chief lead by example!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. I'd like to see him drop down and give us twenty

[3catwoman3]

30. I'd like to see him drop down and give us one...

… or even be able to get up off the floor unassisted.

[niyad]

42. He couldn't even manage the "drop down" part, unless it was only his pants.

[3catwoman3]

49. Eewwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Remember, folks, that's a guy who. . .

Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2025, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)

. . .DRIVES. HIS. GOLF. CART. ON. THE. GREEN.

[SheltieLover]

45. Me too, Yo!

[usonian]

6. YOU'RE ALL TOO FAT

President company excepted.

[Bev54]

7. Do they think that this is going to attract new troops to sign up?

I can see a lot of retirements coming up with less people signing up, is he going to bring back the draft as well?

[haele]

8. PT every day?

Okay, kids, time for the 10 minute wake up!
We start out with 30 second toe-touch stretch, then two minutes of jumping jacks, then two minutes of push-ups or mountain climbers, then a jog in place for 5 minutes- ready, set, go...

There now, don't you all feel better. Okay - now for the plan of the day...

[dalton99a]

9. NEXT: SOW Hegseth requires a daily report from every general to explain why they shouldn't be fired.

[Champp]

11. Aesthetics is a Nazi thingy

They want to strut and preen like bigly man men

[tanyev]

12. Yep. They'd rather have good looking troops than intelligent, competent troops.

[Renew Deal]

13. Strategy is out, lethality is in

Less winning, more war crimes.

[question everything]

14. Whenever I see his "do" I am reminded of the George Clooney character in "Oh Brother where art thou"

in search of the goo for his hair.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

50. Dapper Dan or Fop?

[question everything]

58. I think Dapper Dan. Is this, was this, a real product?

Competition in O’Brother, Where Art Thou?

George Clooney’s character is obsessed with Dapper Dan Pomade, a fictional hair styling product that creates his sleek, shiny, combed-back hair. Clooney makes a scene when the shop clerk sells him FOP Pomade, because from his perspective only Dapper Dan will do.

https://grfxfilm.substack.com/p/unraveling-dapper-dan-the-iconic

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. MaddowBlog-Why Pete Hegseth's pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected

Did the secretary bring generals and admirals in from around the world so he could treat them like a CPAC audience? Actually, yes, he did.

Why Pete Hegseth’s pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected

flip.it/GIAS0g

— (@gypsydaveh.bsky.social) 2025-09-30T16:25:32.516Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pete-hegseth-speech-generals-admirals-rcna234674

But having heard the secretary’s remarks, he proved to be even worse than expected. Reuters reported:

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed ‘fat generals’ and diversity initiatives that he said led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they don’t support his agenda. ‘Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the “Woke Department,”’ Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia. ‘But not anymore,’ he said.

Choosing the worst moment from Hegseth’s bizarre and unnecessary speech is admittedly challenging. Was it his boasts about firing qualified military leaders? Or maybe his condemnation of diversity initiatives and climate change as “s---” that the military will no longer care about?.....

Maybe the lowest of the low points was Hegseth’s comment that seemed to open the door to a new attitude toward war crimes. “We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country,” he declared. “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement.”

Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-09-30T13:06:31.204Z

In other words, Hegseth spent millions of taxpayer dollars to bring generals and admirals in from around the world so that he could treat them like a CPAC audience.

As for those in attendance who might’ve been uncomfortable with the secretary’s absurdities, he extended some advice to them, too. “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” Hegseth said.

[Ilsa]

19. "...no more overbearing rules of engagement."

So, more like Russian soldiers at Bucha, Ukraine? Torture and rape are okay now?

Fuck this shit.

[Ocelot II]

38. Fuck the Geneva Conventions, right?

[GenThePerservering]

16. He's obviously never done hot yoga

I doubt seriously that he would be able to make it through a single session.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Whiskey Pete doing hot yoga? The back-alley stench of dumpster bourbon

filling the yurt with acrid fumes and sticky tobacco-colored residue . . .

Yeah, pass.

[Wiz Imp]

20. I expect that if physical standards are indeed raised, as long as they're not

outright discriminatory, far more men will fail to meet new standards than women.

[Kaleva]

31. Going by sheer numbers, I would say that would be true

[niyad]

44. He doesn't want any women in the military.

[lame54]

21. Steroids for breakfast

[Coventina]

22. Does that include throwing axes at drummers?

?si=-rSx6oNjC2_2b_Pg

[Buckeyeblue]

23. The only thing Hegseth and I agree on is that everyone in the military should meet a PT standard

But if he makes it too stringent he'll a lot of men will fail it. Not everyone in the military are athletes. But asking everyone to be physically fit is not controversial in my opinion.

[Kaleva]

29. I agree

[Rebl2]

25. I hope

He included himself in the directive. Doubtful though.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Generals are not in field combat any longer.

Why do they need daily PT?

[Kaleva]

27. Probably need the stamina to put in very long hours and still think clearly

That’s my guess.

Also, physical exercise is a good way to reduce stress.

[ananda]

35. For their hands so they can hold the sharpies longer...

when drawing battle plans on the whiteboard.

[hatrack]

28. Well, I don't doubt that Kegbreath has done thousands of 8-ounce curls over the years . . .

[ananda]

36. Maybe he needs it to handle a skateboard...

when playing war in the driveway.

[hatrack]

39. Or an axe . . .

He can pick who stands behind the target.

[niyad]

47. Hand curled around an 8 oz beer glass?

[hatrack]

48. The very same - 12 oz and 16 oz options also available . . .

[Jilly_in_VA]

33. OK, Pistol Pete

Let's see you drop and give us 20. ON LIVE TV. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!

What's that? You can't? RESIGN! That won't be tolerated!

[Irish_Dem]

37. Why is Hegseth so focused on soldiers looking buff and handsome?

Hmmmm......

[valleyrogue]

40. POS drunkard is pushing for a way to kick women out of the military.

They are just things for screwing, reproducing, and doing shitwork around the house men are too lazy to do.

[GoCubsGo]

54. He's also trying to push out African-American men.

Hence, his bullshit about the beards. The military relaxed the rules on beards for them, because they're prone issues with ingrown hairs when they shave. Anyone who has ever watched Dr. Pimple Popper knows what kind of problems that can cause. That little booze-addled sadist wants them to suffer, should they refuse to quit over this shit.

[Ping Tung]

43. Will he be watching? Sounds kind of kinky.

[meadowlander]

46. Sounds like a great use of taxpayer money! We'll be unbeatable at the next early 20th century style land war!

Just bear in mind that while Pistol Pete is pissing around trying to figure out how to kick women and trans people out of the military, China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal and ICBM capabilities, enhancing their surveillance capability, kitting out the largest navy in the world, and eyeing up Taiwan.

[mainer]

51. North Vietnam beat our big, strong, masculine military

And they did it with an army of far smaller men and women, many of them barefoot, whose only advantage was sheer determination.

As Eisenhower said, “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

[Kaleva]

52. Actually they didn't

The Tet Offensive was a major defeat for them but a huge political victory.

[mainer]

56. You're saying we were victorious in Vietnam?

We have different views of victory.
Our generals kept insisting "we've won every battle."
But a battle is not a war.

[Iris]

53. Who asked for this bullshit?

[mainer]

57. Paul Krugman's very fine comments on this:

"War still requires extraordinary courage from the men and women engaged in combat — courage that, according to officers I’ve spoken with, is rooted in a sense of honor, not swaggering machismo. Combatants also have to be physically fit enough to endure incredible hardship.

But they don’t have to look like bodybuilders — and anyway, only a small fraction of a modern army engages directly in combat. These days, war is conducted largely with machines and ranged weapons, and most of an army’s personnel are employed, one way or another, keeping those machines and weapons in action and providing the intelligence that makes them effective. These noncombatants are every bit as essential to victory as front-line troops.

Actually, this has been true for a long time, at least since World War II. I very much doubt that Hegseth would consider the team led by Alan Turing, which broke Germany’s Enigma code, or the group led by Joseph Rochefort, which broke Japan’s naval code, warriors — even leaving aside the fact that Turing was gay. Yet they contributed as much to victory as any front-line soldier.

And the “warrior ethos” Hegseth touts is even less sufficient, on its own, to win wars today."