SO many Americans who were thrilled with Secretary of War’s speech, but we collected comments from military-related people from the comment sections of various news articles, videos, etc:
Best military speech of my lifetime! Air Force for 42 years (20 enlisted/22 civilian) and he addressed every shortcoming I have seen throughout my career. It made me want to reenlist. God bless the War Department and God Bless America.
Amen, brother. Those of us who served hated to see how the Biden administration emasculated our once proud military. Time to focus again on “Fly, Fight, WIN”!!
I’ve been a Soldier for a long time, and this is the clear-eyed, morally certain, aggressive, and supportive leadership we need. These are the right decisions, made by fearless leaders, that will breed fearless leaders and warriors. It is hard to describe how motivating this is for those of us in the US Armed Forces, and I’m excited for our future. Maybe I won’t be getting out as soon as I thought… – LTC, US Army
I watched it start to finish and there was not one single word I disagreed with. As a retired officer who witnessed the beginning of the decay firsthand I am optimistic about the new direction of the War Department.
I appreciate Pete Hegseth bringing quality back to the military. I went through and graduated from Airborn and Ranger Training in 1961. In Ranger training, we started the program with 125 men but only graduated 75. The others washed out in the training. I doubt that any woman would have survivied the training then. Wonderful to see quality and “tough” training standards brought back. We need the very best to protect our country.
My daughter went to the US Naval Academy and commissioned into the Marines. She may not like it, but I don’t want her in any job that she isn’t physically able to do, nor to I want her relying on people who are in roles that they aren’t physically capable of fulfilling in a combat situation.
Currently Serve. This gave me the greatest sigh of relief to hear. Too many serving who think they should be an exception to the standard.
My son is in the US Navy – his entire station was absolutely ablaze with excitement after Hegseth’s speech….. my son hadn’t been able to watch it before calling me, and his first words were “Dad, was his speech as badass as what I am hearing?” I told him, “Even better – this is the type of speech that you must watch, not merely listen to or read. No teleprompter – no notes – only sincere conviction spoken without a single um or uh – the type of speech one can give only if they truly believe every singe word as though it was engraved on one’s soul.”
I am a combat veteran of this country and I have a son serving now on his 9th year. we have both sat back and watched with the Democrats and liberals have tried to do to our military and it’s disgusting and the secretary is correct about the decay and toxic environment. several times I talk to my son about hanging in there and that the administration in place would not last long and president Trump would be back and start straightening things out. he has done that in my son holds his head higher than before. when you take a military force and remove its lethality in place of wokeism then you turned an elite Force into a laughing stop to the world especially the adversaries. when was the last time you seen a defense secretary out working out with the troops in running and bringing forth the warrior ethos which was pushed to the side by the left? regaining lethality and letting the world know it puts America’s military back on top.
What a wonderful and refreshing attitude. I retired in 1990 from the USAF at 20 years.”If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is,” Have worked with and for plenty of woman and was lucky to have nothing but excellent experience. Maybe I was just lucky. Worked for plenty of tough and not so tough supervisors. The tough ones ran an excellent rated duty section the others just satisfactory. Our military needs exactly what he wants.
I survived 20 years in the U S Navy as a woman. did my job, net physical PFT standards and was promoted first time, every time, with male domination. so it can be done. makes women mentally strong and capable to survive.
You bet it does, I just reenlisted in the USAF Reserve and I do my job, I meet and exceed all standards and I have yet to be passed over for a promotion. You either have what it takes or you don’t. I wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would any of the women I serve with.
I retired after 5 years of active duty in the Navy followed by 23 years working for the Department of the Navy as a civil servant. I saw over the years how standards were eroding. By the time I left in 2021, the number of obese sailors I saw on a daily basis was an embarrassment to the uniform. It also seemed that every month was such and such appreciation month. Under Loyd Austin, we had to take mandatory anti-extremism training. The woke agenda was apparent everywhere. Hegseth’s speech and executive orders are exactly what the military needed, and not a moment too soon. Bravo!!!
I was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam with the 27th, Marines. It’s time to get tough again and make sure that our standards are not lowered, Just so certain recruits can’t become military personnel.
As someone who had served in the military from the 70s to the 2000s, it was nice to hear manifest change in the services, and moving away from this woke crap.
Outstanding! I only wish that I was young enough to come out of retirement and serve again. I retired when the woke and equity movement was just taking over the military. It was a sad thing to see after 22 years.
Having served as a commissioned officer this rang so true. Leaders being held to maintain retention numbers, even soldiers who absolutely had zero business being in the military. Being forced to keep fat, drug using, poor character individuals was a cancer on the units. The standards became lax because the military just wanted to “keep” people regardless of their quality. Soldiers coming directly out of basic training unable to read a map, or pass a physical fitness test. Issuing them “stress cards” to pull out when they were overly stressed. This is a step in the right direction and I actually applaud him for taking this approach. I was never a fan of having a secretary of defense who didnt even make it to the rank of O5. I stand corrected
After 20yrs of service, I’m glad I retired just in time to not have to live through the last decade of horrid decisions that have severely degraded our war-fighting capabilities. Our primary purpose has always been to defend the United States from its enemies; that means stopping those that want to harm its citizens, not celebrate them.
I fully support Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s call to eliminate ‘woke’ diversity measures and to remove unnecessary restrictions on lethal force. It’s essential for military effectiveness that we prioritize readiness and decisiveness, ensuring our service members can operate without constraints that may hinder their mission. SEMPER FI
As a retired army soldier, I applaud Hegseth’s initiatives. Over the last 50 years, I’ve watched our military decline and it’s sad. There were momentary blips of improvement, but overall its been in decline. It’s time we put our military back on the right path.
30+ Year vet, and this is pure gold. LONG overdue.
Finally. This is 40 years overdue. I could not be more impressed or delighted. In 1984, as an ROTC cadet, I had the misfortune of being part of the first cycle of officers where they trained the men and women together. We warriors knew then that they had turned the Officer Basic course into a girl scout camp. It was DEI on steroids. They lied and told us the women were just as capable as the men, and then we watched the drill instructors having to carry the packs of the women so they could finish our long marches. And then they sat the men down for mandatory sensitivity training… and then assigned the women to the leadership positions for our graduation parade so that everyone would think they were succeeding.
Pete Hegseth just moved way up the list on my list of people that I admire greatly. I am an Army vet (59-68) and for the first time in my life (I’m 84) we have a Secretary of War that I can be proud of. The man is a natural leader and understands the role of the military perfectly.
I retired from the US Army in 1996 after having served 21 1/2 years. During my time in, I and other senior NCOs, noticed a gradual shift in policies. I left because of the changes and serving wasn’t as satisfying any more. Now when I visit military bases around the country, I see how far standards have fallen, especially in the Army. It’s about time new standards are put in place and hopefully enforced. And having the same physical standard requirements for men and women in combat roles makes sense.
As a former commissioned officer, I am standing at attention listening to the secretary’s remarks. He’s bringing back the military that I served in alongside of a lot of other great Americans including the greatest generation.
Served 21 years, 4 of it on warships and also 4 in training commands. You can’t train for war by only focusing on defense. All branches of our military need to train for war……a strong offense will prevent the need for defensive only status. Over my last 4 years of service I saw a decline in preparedness. Readiness inspections were reduced and training commands lost many personnel due to reductions in staffing. Hegseth is right to shift to offensive warfare and hopefully will restore the readiness of our warships, war planes and weaponry. It will be interesting to see if all of the senior officers are onboard with this and how many will resign/retire.
If one of my grandson’s now wants to join, I won’t advise against it. I proudly served like my father, uncles and both grandfathers. I sincerely pray for the sake of my country, that the new rules hold up.
Our new Secretary of War is just what we need. Love it! USAF 1982-2007.
Having served in SAC through the 80s, I have been dismayed and disappointed by the deteriorating grooming standards in today’s military. I am heartened to hear that Secretary Hegseth places importance on looking like a professional soldier rather than a mercenary.
His remarks definitely make my heart full. He is speaking of things that were completely normal for me and everyone that I flew with while in the USAF in the 1980s. The warrior mentality.
This is so refreshing. When I retired in 2014 I witnessed this erosion happening to the good order and discipline of the institution. It’s a rot that weakens the system. There was only one party using our great military as a proving grounds for nonsense. Strong leadership starts at the very top.
YES! A return to the warrior mentality! You either make it or you don’t. As a 25 year retired AF veteran I applaud the return to the warrior ethos.
I served 31 years of Active Duty from the late 60’s through the early 2000’s…I saw many changes in policy direction over those years. I absolutely love this Secretary of War! We are moving our military in the right direction for a change. Any senior officer who even blinks at these changes should be shown the exit and every one of them, all others, for that matter, who is not within weight and physical standards should be given 30 days to conform.
I was enlisted, Army Ranger, 3rd battalion and then became a commissioned officer and rose to rank of Captain. I was so sick of seeing the fatties; this new direction makes me smile!
As a disabled veteran I am ecstatic with these changes. Now, we can get back to the military of old where we were a fierce fighting machine and proud to serve our Country.
I was a Vietnam era second lieutenant, US Army. We trained hard because we knew that if we didn’t, we would be killed. We depended on our trip fellow troopers and expected them to train hard which they did. A military force is meant to be lethal and hard. I applaud Secretary Hegseth’s efforts and can only hope that they will outlast his tenure.
As a 17 year Vet, this type of meeting was so overdue. Pete is right, the time when Generals & Admirals behave they way they wanted is OVER. Over the years, these generals were complicit with the decay of our military. The time of “Social Experiment” in our military is OVER.
As a recently retired Army officer with several combat deployments, I can only applaud Pete’s points. The Army was far too distracted by social engineering (LGBTQ, BIPOC, DEI) to the detriment of attracting, training and retaining quality Soldiers.
I served in the Navy back when Iran took our embassy. There were expectations/standards for every soldier, airmen, and sailor. The military has one job and one job only: fight and win the war. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS! This is so refreshing to hear that the warrior mentality is back. The last thing that any of our enemy foreign military wants to hear is that our men and women are returning to their warrior ethos! We might not win every battle but we will win the war, this Secretary of War will ensure that.
I was privileged to serve in uniform from 1984-2010 and I’m a defense contractor now. Over my 41-year involvement with the Pentagon, SecWar Hegseth is the absolute BEST we’ve ever had. I’ve never seen any of the other ones do PT with the troops or, better yet, clearly define our mission and the standards our troops need to meet to accomplish it.
I’m a woman and a former member of the military. I agree with Hegseth 100%. You don’t lower the standards. That isn’t the way to do it. You have the same standards for everyone. Women can still try, you haven’t closed it to them. You have made it so everyone has to meet the same standards. That’s the way it should be.
It’s about time we have proper leadership running our government. He’s right. DEI needs to die. Diversity months need to end. Diversity doesn’t unite, it focuses on differences that divide. PT and height/weight standards need to be enforced. Nothing is worse than seeing soldiers 30 years younger than me who are in worse shape than me.
As a retired member of the armed services, I find it embarrassing and sad as you pull up to a gate on a military base see men unshaven, and women with their hair below their shoulders. Clearly, weight physical standards are being pushed to the limit as well. Thank goodness the norms are being restored. Indeed, discipline to keep yourself well groomed has a direct tie to discipline in life, and in following military regulations, traditions, customs, and courtesies.
It all comes down to being a matter of respect towards being a professional, and for oneself.
I’m a retired Lt. Col. and I live near a joint military base. When I visit either military installation, for the most part I’m disappointed in the appearance of the active personnel especially the enlisted side, E-3 to E-6. Many personnel are overweight, failed grooming standards and no military bearing. When I was active duty I told subordinates, don’t meet the standards, exceed the standards.
This secretary of war has become my favorite during my lifetime. If I could serve again I would. This was a historic speech and the outcome in the future will be linked to it with military performance. To be in the military at this time with this change, is a powerful thing. I applaud him.
Finally, we got back to basics. Back to commonsense. Back to standards and accountability based on Merit! How can this even be argued? Only our enemies would argue these ideas. We are getting Woke, DEI and Politics out of War Fighting in defense of our Nation. When I retired out of the military, it begun to lose its way, standards were cut to accommodate others, moral was starting to dip and the liberals seemed to align to political correctness as if they were the enemy of the US. Today made me see our military preparedness in a new, bold light, so much that I would reenlist, if I could. Pray for our leaders and warriors!
This was simply awesome. My replacement in Middle East in the 2022 was a male who decided to come out as a female. I knew then that it was time to retire….
It’s about time. I served for 28 years and retired in 92. There were standards for appearance, weight, and behavior. I was a First Sergeant for 13 years and enforced those standards. When I see today’s military, I feel ill. I’m in better shape at almost 80 years old. Leadership died when liberals gained the majority.
It’s long overdue. I live in an area with a lot of Army & Air Force personnel & I see it in both branches; people overweight, needing haircuts, unshaven, uniforms looking like they just rolled out of the laundry basket, walking around with their hands in their pockets & earbuds in their ears.
This is the kind of military that everyone involved will be proud now and for the rest of their lives.
Retired from the Military in 1988 and live close to a Military Base that that I visit often. There’s no doubt in my mind observing the Military Personnel on the Base the Physical Fitness Standards are Much Lower than the years I Served.
As a Marine Corps veteran from the 80s, I support him 100% on his mission to reform the military
Love, love, love this! I got out a decade ago because they wanted me to work in a Diversity office, where I would largely be tracking race and gender to ensure “equity” across career fields, promotions and such. Let’s get back to warfighting and merit.
As a retired female US Navy CWO2, I TOTALLY AGREE with EVERYTHING our Secretary of War said. Way to go, Mr. Secretary! FINALLY!
As a 30+ year veteran I love these changes! It’s long overdue.
Finally someone who gets it! I am a 25 year retired veteran, who retired in 2013. In those 25 years I watched the standards, and motivation decrease well softness and complacency increased. It got so bad that if a soldier couldn’t get a babysitter, then leadership would let the soldier bring the child to the motor pool. It was horrible!
Saw a lot of what he was talking about when I retired in 2015. Things changed a whole lot over the 21 years I was in and I’m glad he is pushing a back to the basics attitude, as well as toughness.
I know I was shocked when I saw troops with hair down their back (in uniform) and seriously overweight (in uniform.) I served when standards were military standards.
I bailed out as soon as I hit my 20-year point back in 2004 because political correctness was seeping into everything. I’d have stayed if this had happened back then.
Great speech Secretary Hegseth! As a Navy mom, I have money in the game.
I am so glad to see that the Department of War is taking things seriously. In my time at Fort Bragg it was obvious to everyone that other than the Airborne/Ranger units, personnel were not being held to any physical standard. We had Officers and Enlisted in none combat units on base that were in terrible shape. Highly overweight, incapable of war fighting and dare I say inept.
As a proud female veteran I cheered when Hegseth reinstated the standards for physical fitness and appearance.
As a former Army officer I agree 1,000% with these changes – back to the core mission of our military. I watched in disgust as the standards were watered down to accommodate the LEAST fit for war-fighting. Finally, after 16 years I had to leave. Our military is NOT a “social experiment”!!!!!
Thank you for bringing back standards to our Armed forces, we Veterans love what youre doing.
Semper Fi brothers and sisters of all branches. I hope this restores the strength and backbone of the Corps I love as well as all others. OOH RAH!!
My son is in USMC bootcamp and Secretary Hegseth gives me great peace. We’ve needed a leader like this for a long time and it’s refreshing to hear this speech.
I have been waiting my entire adult life to hear a speech like that from the Secretary of War. I had almost given up. I hope we have enough time to repair all the damage to our military forces.
This was most definitely an In Your Face, Coming to Jesus meeting to make sure that there was ZERO misunderstanding. This has been needed for so long and I am so glad to see it happen. And if the follow through holds true, maybe I can start believing again that my 20 years of serving and defending my Country was not in vain.
As a veteran, I love this. We have all seen the weakening of the military over the decades. This is long overdue.
It was a great speech and I say this as a retired member that served in the time frame between 1978 and 2008 in the Army Guard, Active Army and the Air National Guard. I think he should gone further and fired about half of the flag officers as they are ultimately the ones at fault for what happened to with regards to DEI and woke policy especially within the Air Force and Air Guard. Just flat unacceptable the things I seen.
Yay! The military is going to become the one I remember growing up. Yes, I’m old. It was highly respected and respectable.
I served 28 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard. I would run 8 minute miles and bench press 175 lbs up into my mid-forties. I had to be an example to my subordinates. I could not believe how overweight members got after I retired. Standards were relaxed and how unprofessional members looked. I am glad the military is going back to what worked and separated us from society; a strong and lean fighting machine from the bottom to the top. HUA!
A relative had a son enlist in the Marines during the last administration. At a home visit, he stated that high school football practice was harder than Marine life. I have no way of knowing if he was sincere, but it’s hard to doubt, knowing what we know.
January 1985, I was the 1st woman to ever do my job in the AF. I had to PROVE at MEPS that I could do every part of that job before I even went to basic. Since that time I have watched standards almost become nonexistent. YOU conform to the military…. NOT the other way around.
Retired Navy Chief, and it is great to see this come to Jesus moment. I have been embarrassed at our military over the last few years. Hopefully this will get our military back on track.
What an inspiring speech. If I wasn’t past the age, I would sign up to serve!
As a 30 year retired veteran, I have no problem with anything SECDEF said! It’s a voluntary force and the standards are right in front of you – get on board, meet standards or get out!
I’ve worked in the DoW now for over 45 yrs both as an active duty airman and civilian and I have seen the decline of our readiness for the sake of a woke agenda. I was disgusted to see the special months set aside for various groups or causes. And the decline of physical fitness standards, fat bearded military is deplorable. He is right when he said standards should not be changed to favor a group of people. I applaud his return of fitness standards and letting leaders lead. From the NCO’s to commanders they should be the example for subordinates to follow. Keep up the great work!
As a combat vet I couldn’t agree more with this stance. While our enemies continue to instill in their troops firm discipline, a strict training and physical fitness regiment, our military has been allowed to lapse in combat readiness and our aging military leadership to rest on their laurels. That has to change rapidly if we want to be in any position to face the coming war with China with any hope of a favorable outcome much less a decisive victory.
My wife was an Air Force officer in the 80s. She said the fitness hypocrisy in the general officer ranks was a real turn off for her. I’m glad Hegseth is doing the right thing. Officers should be held to the same standards as the troops they lead.
The social engineering in the military got a start with Clinton, but then Obama took it to new levels and of course under Brandon it went insane! Those of us who served when there were strict standards and discipline are more than happy to see it return!
As a Veteran all I can say is AMEN!!
Watched the whole thing. 10 years multiple services & I loved what I saw and heard. Awesome speech!
I served in the USAF, and my husband was a combat Marine with 3 purple hearts. Hell of a soldier. Our children have served, and my father was retired Air Force serving 25 years. I have always advocated for a 2 yr enlistment for all leaving high school. Hegsteth is right. You need a strong military, and you need to be sure that the soldiers with you have your back just like you have theirs. If you are out of shape, not prepared or to timid, death and injury occur. God bless our Military and Veterans and God bless America.
Step out into the Pentagon courtyard during the duty day – you’ll see the smokers, walkers, long-haired and bearded uniform wearers, along with the fat body platoon hanging out. about four weeks back i was walking across the courtyard to the quicken my route to another corridor when I had to look twice at about 8 grossly fat-bodied women in uniform – not pregnant – fat. no room left in the battle dress uniform. then there were the bearded (not spec ops) men w/braids. I continued on thinking Pete is gonna lose his mind when he sees this going on. here we are four weeks later…and boom.
As a former US Air Force officer, I wholeheartedly support Hegseth’s marching orders. Get with it, or go away.
His speech reminded me of George Patton. Well done, and Airborne All The Way!
Ret Army 25-yrs left as a CSM – over the years some social engineering was shoved down our throats. What the Sec of War said, he said out loud what a lot of the line troops have said for years. If we are to be the baddest MF you have to deal with it takes time, effort, training, focus and clear goals.
Make senior leadership get in the same physical fitness as the underlings? That would be refreshing. In all the units I served in, the vast majority of any soldiers above the rank of captain (US Army) were barely able to get up from their desk, let alone pass a PT test. I worked in Bn HQ in two units and saw this first hand.
About time someone like Hegseth is setting the standard. Being a politically biased general is not a qualification to be Secretary of War…..so far he’s been spot on in his observations and actions. I served for 20 years in the Army….82nd, 2nd Rgr Bn, etc. Retired at 42 still lean and mean enough to set the example everyday and maintained the physical standards of the youngest age group…..how else can you lead by example?
Airborne, 5th group 3 deployments! Keep it going my brother!
As a 31 year Veteran, all I have to say is, it’s about f’ing time. This speech Hegseth gave to these GOs and Senior NCOs was a long time coming to get them back on to the War Fighter path and make our Military feared throughout the world. I 100% agree with what he said and I already see some of those woke GOs resigning after this. I say good riddance to you because you were part of the problem that ruined the morale or our troops who lost confidence in their leadership. I hope you do not receive your pension or that six figure job that was waiting for you while you sat around waiting for your retirement. All who resign or falls under the RIF should lose their security clearances. Go Hegseth and President Trump, Make our Military Great
I served for 31 years and maxed my PT test every time and it’s really not all that hard to do. I loved serving and wearing the uniform and being there for my brothers and sisters and that is and should be why you keep yourself in shape and ready to serve. Retired in 2019 because unfortunately under Obama the military implemented some horrible and detrimental policies. I would have stayed had it not been for the craziness from his policies. Sounds like Pete is bringing the real men and women back. I’m 56 now PETE but if needed I’m still ready and fit.
That is how it was forty plus years ago when I was in the USAF. Two of my sons went through basic training and they were both unimpressed, and frankly a little embarrassed with the lack of training, and discipline! My youngest son was very upset with the out of shape men and women he worked beside, especially his superior’s!
I live near a huge military base and have been around soldiers 100 pounds overweight . Get fit or get out.
Retired at 30. Wish Hegseth had been my SecDef. He knows how to lead our military.
I’m a 31 year vet and this is the kick in the azz those senior leaders needed. About half of them need to be relieved and sent into retirement. Thank you and good bye. The military was becoming a joke. I’d see fat bearded slobs on the gates at Ft L Wood and it was disgusting to see. Troops can’t march, no discipline, and an installation looks like crap. Senior leader failure. Too many weak spineless DEI created senior leaders and not enough warriors.
The 3 West Point grads and my son in the marines all agree with Hegseth.
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