By Pete Hegseth | Fox News
The motivating question for my new book – “The War on Warriors” – was simple and vexing: do I want my sons to follow in my footsteps and serve in the military?
I used to think it was automatic; of course I would. But, like most veterans today, that assumption has been shaken to the core.
Given the upside-down priorities of the Pentagon, do I really want my kids to serve?
I still don’t know for certain. Which is why I waited until the book was complete to collect my thoughts and write the epilogue — “A Letter to My Sons” — which I share below:
Dear Boys,
God granted me the greatest gift I could ever imagine — being your father. It is the highest honor I can imagine, and I take nothing more seriously — and nothing brings me greater earthly joy. I teach you, train you, discipline you and challenge you — because I love you. I love you, like only a father can.
You are all individuals, with different gifts, interests, and passions. Each a child of God — and soon, I pray, men of God.
You grew up in a covenant Christian home, which is the most important part of who you — and we — are. Our eternal home is in Christ’s Kingdom, and we strive to love Him with all our heart, and soul and mind. While we have breath, we are also charged with advancing His Kingdom here on earth.
To that end, you are blessed to have been born in the greatest country in human history.
You have all studied history, extensively. There have been kingdoms, empires, tyrants and tribes over thousands of years — but none like America.
Our Founding Fathers understood that this experiment in self-governance and individual freedom was just that … an experiment. It was the exception to human history, not the rule. It had never been tried.
Almost 250 years later, our Republic still stands. America is still here, but she is on life support. We have turned our back on God, and on our founding principles. We have lost our way.
But we only got this far because men and women — but mostly men — were willing to fight for that freedom, with their “lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.”
Many of those men wore a uniform and carried a rifle — from the bridges of Lexington and Concord to the battlefields of Baghdad and Kabul.
America is special because it is free, but only free because of special men.
Fighting men.
If you’ve read this book, you know a portion of your father’s journey — from fighting extremists to being deemed one himself.
It’s a cautionary tale, for sure. But would I change one thing? Absolutely not.
Next to serving God, wearing the uniform of the United States of America is the greatest thing I’ve ever done. Forget basketball. Forget the Ivy League. Forget television. Leading men in combat, with a shared mission — for my country — was the best education I ever received.
Yet, we are at a crossroads. The military I joined in 2001 is not the military of today. It has been captured by leftist forces that have captured the rest of our culture.
But unlike schools, unlike churches, and unlike different states — we can’t just replace one we don’t like with one we like better. We have one Pentagon. One military. One Army. If we lose those, we have truly lost America.
It is up to my generation — in government, media and culture — to fight for a change in leadership inside our military.
It is an uphill battle to right that ship. But it is up to your generation, even in the face of serious headwinds, to fill the ranks from the inside and impact it from within.
It’s up to you to decide if service to country is still worth it.
Is America still worth fighting for?
Is America still worth dying for?
By the time you each reach 18 years of age, we will know more about the answer to those questions. And I will be there to counsel you.
Even with those questions — and even with all the uncertainty — I hope you join the ranks of American fighting men.
I encourage you to serve, asking yourself this simple question: If not me, then who? If not Gunner, Jackson, Boone, Luke or Rex Hegseth — who is going to protect America?
Are you going to rely on other men, or on women, who have other worldviews to fill the ranks? Just because our military is far from perfect, can we afford to lose her? My answer is no.
If you take that oath, I hope you take it all the way. Your dad didn’t know the difference between the Army and the Marine Corps when he joined. I was not from a military family. But when you join, you will know.
And I would urge you to join the best. The SEALs. The Rangers. The Green Berets. Marine Raiders. Not only will you learn the most about yourself, get the best training, and do the most good for your country, but those units are also the least likely — still today — to be infected by the woke virus. Elite units usually skip most of — excuse my language but it’s true — the bullshit.
If my boys are going to raise their right hand, and put the American flag on their shoulders, I want them where it matters. Where real decisions are made, and where meritocracy — for the most part — still reigns.
Service to country, with God in your hearts, will take you places and teach you things you will never learn anywhere else.
You will be forged, you will be warriors, and you will never regret it. You will join another brotherhood, an elite brotherhood.
I urge you in this consideration to show courage. You are men. Act like it. But if you choose not to serve in uniform, that is your choice. Then my charge for you is to fight and lead at home — because our war is on all fronts.
I love you boys — and pray that your fight, like mine, means your kids (and may you have many!) and my grandkids live in an America that honors God, cherishes freedom, celebrates families, and lives in peace.
In God We Trust, Dad
My opinion may change in four years, when my oldest turns 18. But I hope not. The freedom of America has always been purchased by the courage, sacrifice and blood of young American men willing to step up. We will always need it.
The question is, in the next decade — and beyond — will we have a country, and a military, worthy of that courage, sacrifice and blood?
That remains to be seen; but count me in to do whatever I can do win the war for our warriors — and our Republic.
What People Are Saying
(Comments from the comment section)
“I served 20 + years on active duty. My time in service was rewarding for the most part and I am glad I served but I now tell my grandchildren not to join and my reasons should be obvious even to the most casual observer.”
“The military today is no longer the honorable service it used to be. Woke leftists have been emplaced at all the top echelons, woke polices abound and as a whole the socialists in the U.S. have turned the entire military into one giant political experiment. We don’t train for war anymore, we don’t properly train new recruits anymore. Over 20 years I watched around me as the military (Army for me) went from something I was proud to be part of to something I couldn’t wait to get out of.”
“I’m a retired military officer that works as a civil servant on a military base. I can’t wait to retire from civil service because our military terrifies me. At least 30 percent of the people in my office are foreign born who have very little loyalty to this country. They serve for the benefits and are open about it. There are several I know who only have green cards. This is by design of the left. He who controls the military, controls the country.”
“Retiring in one year and the military has been an incredible adventure, challenge, and I greatly admire the men and woman in our military. It has been an honor to serve with them. I have significant reservations advising my son to serve at this time since I believe we no longer have a country worth defending. Our government is broken, a tyrannical justice system, absent leadership, and a porous Southern border resulting in a loss of our sovereignty.”
“As a combat veteran myself I would tell my son that joining the military today would most likely mean that you would have to sacrifice your honor and your values in order to be successful in the current climate.”
“I know a young man who graduated West Point and wanted to make the military a career. He recently got out because he said the Pentagon has become way too political and WOKE.”
“And for a West Point graduate to say that you know it’s bad. I spent 37 years in and so glad I retired in 2016. Things were just starting to go south then. The Pandemic really made things worse.”
“My Grandfather, the son of a sharecropper, retired from the Army as a Major after enlisting at the 17. My Dad retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after graduating from West Point. I turned down West Point and went to the Coast Guard Academy. I didn’t make it a career because I got out to care for my young wife with brain cancer. I also named my kids Lincoln and Liberty. As a 3rd generation vet from a family with over 50 years of continuous service, to say I’m a Patriot is an understatement. And I can’t in good conscience recommend the military to either of my kids. I would be extremely proud if they decide to serve, because there is no higher honor. But this country and our military has changed and I’m not sure the fight is worth it anymore.”
“Our family is ex-military – I did 2 combat tours – We live in a military town and most of our neighbors are current military. You do not want your son’s to join Pete. There used to be a semi-parade everyday past our house as troops in uniform and full packs jogged past us to keep in shape (101st). Today, maybe one jogger a day in jogging gear. DEI has definitely taken its toll.”
“Retired in 03 and both my daughter and son joined the military, AF and Navy. I encouraged them to get an education but joining the military was their choice and I supported that as well. They both served their terms and are doing quite well in civilian life but if that were today, I would tell them you don’t need “leaders” who are Men wearing Dresses leading a combat fighting force. Don’t join that crusade to support insanity.”
“I, too, fought and sacrificed for my country, like thousands of other outstanding men and women. However, the country I believed in then is not the country I see and believe in now. The problem goes deeper than, “a change in leadership inside our military.” True fundamental, long lasting change happens at home as the author so aptly describe by the intent and manner in which he taught and raised his sons. The democrat party figured this out a long time ago and, like demons possessed, are destroying the lynchpin, bastion of society’s strength through their war on the nuclear, traditional family and its support structures of religion, schooling, scouting, and sports.”—Persian Gulf vet
“My son is 17 and knows how to fly a Cessna. We are a military family but he does not want to join for now until the military gets back on track and stays on track with the mission.”
“My nephew was a causality of Afghanistan in 2020. He had a strong sense of duty. It cost him his life. I honor him. However, in my heart ….No, Afghanistan was not worth his life. He sacrificed for this woke, democratic nation and politicians. This country is merely a shadow of what it used to be because of politicians that play chess with the lives of our soldiers to make money on defense contracts, etc. Sadly they are merely pawns in a game of chess.”
“USA retired here! 30 years, mustang, Private (E-1)through Colonel (O-6) and a Ranger too. I do not recommend military service at this time! Dad (O-5), Uncle (O-3) and Brother (O-3) were USMC Officers. None of us recommend military service at this time! We were all combat Infantry Grunts!”
“I served 20 years in the Marine Corps. Seeing how these phony, lying, self serving, corrupt politicians are destroying this country I feel like my service was a complete waste and will never encourage any friends or family to consider the military as an option.”
“No, Pete, service is no longer worth it. My partner is a disabled, ex-POW veteran, who killed many people “under orders.” Through many surgeries and constant continuing pain, I have never seen him cry. “Pain is weakness leaving the body,” he tells me when I ask. Recently, however, I have seen tears threaten his eyes as he realizes that all he did was for nothing.”
“When I was in Vietnam, it angered me to see fathers take their sons to Canada to keep from serving. With today’s WOKE Pentagon, I’d charter a bus to take as many as I could to Canada.”
“Have military background in my family , and recommended the armed service to all my 3 boys – 15 years ago . Now … NO WAY ! Totally disgusted with the country’s leadership and military leadership . I fought FOR COUNTRY , not woke ideals . Is it too late ??? Semper Fi ‘72”
“I feel like I wasted 15 years of my life in the military supporting a government I thought was worth my sacrifice. I personally don’t care how people feel about those in the military. That’s a personal issue and has no weight on how I feel about my time in uniform. what makes me sick to my stomach is the disregard my government has for the rule of law that the constitution is supposed to guarantee all Americans. the American government has subverted those laws to capitalize on situations for their own benefit and not the benefit of the American people. Seeing where my government has taken us to today, I wish I had made a different choice back then.”
“I served. It was an honor, and made me the man I am today. I come from a long line of service members, where almost every male member has done at least one tour. This has been for generations going back to before America was formed. I told my son he should find another way to serve. Our military has stopped serving our country and its people, and is now just used to serve the elite and powerful.”
“I know now my years were not worth fighting for a country on its way to communism.”
“I can tell you right now as a 4th generation combat veteran that none of my children will be recommended or in my opinion even allowed to serve in this military today. This country at this point and under its leadership is not worth saving and definitely not worth fighting or even worse dying for. At this point the only thing worth saving is your family and the ground you reside on. Fellow Americans definitely aren’t worth the time and effort and I have zero faith in any of them.”
“I served 5 years & I regret it. A Nation that Hates its Citizens.”
“The Platoon SGT to the CO in our “modern military”: “They’re ready and prepar–oh wait we let Pvt Suzie and PFC Shenequa off from responsibility for their vital weapon’s system cause they’re pregnant /not deployable to a combat zone for almost a year…SGT Charlotte and SPC Brianna need to have a detail to lift the M2 and .5o Cal ammo into their trucks, it’s too heavy for them. PVT Ashley is on sick leave for LGBTQRST microaggression PTSD. Oh, and SSgt Ben isn’t available for three months for mandated parental leave, LT Chelsea can’t go because she’s(he) in the 6 month pre-surgical counseling for his, I mean her transition surgery. SFC Jones has been reported to the DEI office for having a Trump sticker on his car…(DEI Military today).”
“As a retired Soldier, I am torn on this. My 1st son is still serving (a majority with the SOF community). My Grandchildren will soon be able to choose to serve or not. the next few years will determine any endorsement.”
“I am third generation active duty Army. No way will I encourage any young people from joining this current administration’s military. No one would have their back. Maybe I will later with another administration in charge. But not now.”
“My son and daughter served as did my husband and father. They did not come home after wartime deployments the same personalities who left. Military service is a sacrifice, and should be treated as such. It is also an honor to serve this once-great country. Unfortunately I will not encourage any of my grandchildren to make this commitment, I think the times have changed and this country is in decline.”
“Good for you if you feel that way. I regret my 24 years of service now and discourage anyone from joining the DEI military. It’s a disgrace. The country is lost – accept it. It’s too far gone for anyone to save it.”
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