The Pentagon is seeking soldiers who are “top performers” and meet certain physical requirements to attend the defense secretary’s upcoming address
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NEED TO KNOW
- Troops must reportedly meet strict physical and grooming standards to be chosen to attend Pete Hegseth’s upcoming “State of Force” address
- Selection criteria to attend includes leadership, professional character and a record of integrity and discipline
- Hegseth has emphasized physical fitness in his tenure, including criticizing “fat generals” and introducing testosterone screenings for soldiers over 30
The Pentagon is looking for troops who meet specific waist-to-height requirements and exhibit “impeccable” grooming standards to attend defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming speech on Sept. 30, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal.
The memo comes from internal emails reviewed by the Journal, which reported that troops will be selected to attend Hegseth’s “State of Force” address based on leadership and “professional character.”
Service members who have been consistently ranked as top performers and carry a “clear record of integrity, discipline and selfless service” will also be considered. The memo also stated that selected troops will have the opportunity to work out with the defense secretary, who has previously participated in training with U.S. Marines and other military personnel.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and a Pentagon official declined to comment to the Wall Street Journal.
During his tenure, the defense secretary, 46, has put a large focus on the physical fitness and appearance of U.S. service members, rallying against “fat generals and admirals” in a similar speech last September in Quantico, Va. in front of high-ranking military officials.
While imposing new height and weight requirements for all members of the armed forces, Hegseth told the crowd, “It all starts with physical fitness and appearance.”
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops,” he said. Referring to himself, he added, “If the Secretary of War can do regular hard [physical training], so can every member of our joint force.”
Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty
Hegseth said it’s “completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world,” before adding, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”
Hegseth told the group at the time that no one would be exempt from the new requirements.
During the same speech, he also declared an end to “dudes in dresses” and “climate change worship.”
“No more debris,” he said. “We are done with that s—.”
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In July, Hegseth announced a new testosterone screening program for soldiers over 30 with the goal of “restoring and optimizing natural capabilities, protecting longevity, and ensuring [soldiers] have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight. ”
The screenings are set to be conducted as part of soldiers’ yearly “periodic health assessments.” Those under 30 are permitted to opt into the testing if they choose to do so, while those with low results have the option to try hormone replacement therapy.
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