Army • DOD

‘A Major Upgrade’: Hegseth Inspires Troops By Working Out With Green Berets

14 February 2025

“I would much rather talk to troops than go to cocktail parties. That’s my job.”

By Hank Berrien | The Daily Wire

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, visiting an American military base in Germany, decided to emphasize the kind of fitness demanded by the military under President Donald Trump by working out with the elite Special Forces Group of the Green Berets.

Hegseth, 44, is in Germany as part of his trip to Europe, which also includes stops in Belgium and Poland to discuss military operations with America’s military leaders abroad.

In Germany, Hegseth had plans to visit U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters, also meeting with U.S. service members stationed there to “reaffirm the administration’s commitment to their mission and readiness,” the U.S. Embassy in Poland reported, adding, “Throughout this trip, Secretary Hegseth will emphasize the importance of strengthening alliances, increasing defense readiness, and ensuring that American warfighters remain the most lethal force in the world by demonstrating peace through strength.”

At a townhall at the Pentagon on Friday, Hegseth stated:

“What I what I want to bring to this job and to the ethos, is a recognition of the men and women who do the dirty work all day long for us here, across the world.

Every time I speak, or every time in my previous procession, profession, I was on television, and I got the bright lights and spotlight and people are looking to me, I always step back for a second to think about the men and women that I served with.

The folks that are never going to be introduced, never going to have a microphone. Never going to be heard from. The men and women that you know that you served with who are the best of the best in our country. That’s who we serve.”

“I think the single dumbest phrase in military history is Our Diversity is Our Strength,” he declared.

“I think our strength is our unity, our strength is our shared purpose, regardless of our background, regardless of how we grew up, regardless of our gender, regardless of our race, in this department we will treat everyone equally.

We will treat everyone with fairness. We will treat everyone with respect.

And we will judge you as an individual by your merit and by your commitment to the team and the mission.

That’s how it has been. That’s how it will be.”

Later, he said succinctly, “I would much rather talk to troops than go to cocktail parties. That’s my job.”

First published on The Daily Wire

Speaking of Green Berets, here is a new video they published:

From the description box:

It says more about you than you’d ever say about yourself.
Remarks given by Command Sergeant Major Dave Waldo at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare and School Regimental First Formation on September 19th, 2024.
#DeOppressoLiber
To learn more about what it takes to earn the prestigious #GreenBeret, visit GoArmySOF.army.mil.

Comments on video:

“As a Afghan war veteran this makes me want to go back in.”

“This represents the Army five generations of my family have served. Thank you.”

“This is the military messaging we need and resonate with. Shining light on honor and courage. No one cares about who you were or what your story was. All that matters is what it is you choose to do.”

“This is what we need to see and hear. This is what the young generation needs to see and hear. Perfect.”

“This kind of 180 feels like there were a whole lotta good people who’ve been held down in our military for far too long. And now they have a voice again.”

“I’ve waited 6 years thinking the army I knew was gone but if this is what the Army is turning back into I want to rejoin and come back!”

“And just like that WE ARE BACK!! Been four years since an Army add gave me the chills!”

“I’m current USAF, this is the recruiting videos we need!”

“I’m active Marine Corps now this is what I’m talking about.”

“About time, no more DEI military. No more changing standards. Lets Go!!”

“If a recruiter came to my school back when I was a teen and showed us this I would have signed up on the spot.”

“Now this is the Army I joined.”

“So happy our military is going back to what it should be.”

“I’m happy for the 1st Special Forces Regiment. I’m happy for the 7th Special Forces Group. I’m happy for the Army. I’m so glad we are getting back to our business the way we should have been. De Oppresso Liber!”

“Well, I’m re-enlisting. Loved being a Marine, but I’ll go Army this time. This is the right time.”

“Hell yea now I’m even more proud to say I’m in the United States Army this gets me fired up and i’ve already signed up.”

“The Force has changed back to what it was and always needed to be. SecDef swam across the Hudson a few years back to show his love for his brothers. That’s SecDef Hegseth.”

“Reminds me of 1994 when I joined the Navy – the feeling you were 10 ft tall and could take on all objectives and win.”

“Hell yeah! This is what we’ve been missing. This is my Army!!”

“I joined last year, and what he said about the generation from ww2 being called lazy, undisciplined and willing really got me because that is exactly how my generation is talked about, and many times I can understand why. But it was encouraging to hear, because I don’t believe my generation to be lost and irredeemable. I believe that we are stepping up even if it goes unnoticed. I know that all of my friends in the army including myself want to be in the army because it pushes us to be better. We don’t want an army that is easy on us. We want to uphold the standard that so many generations before us did.”

“I am a 57 year old veteran. I am ready to go again, I’d reenlist right now if I could. I joined under President Reagan, I would join again under President Trump. Haven’t felt or thought like that for the past few years. God Bless America.”

“Again, I am proud to be an American. I missed that feeling.”

“Damn. My final formation is in 2 weeks. Just made me wish it wasn’t.”

“Now THAT’S MY ARMY!! Not the one under Biden my son left where he found his roommate in their common area, sitting on the counter, in panties & a bra, putting on makeup while he looked into a hand mirror. He left the army. He knew I was disappointed, but he said, “It’s not your army anymore Dad”. Please for the love of Mike, make it my army again.”

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