VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday called for tougher physical standards across all branches of the U.S. military, telling top commanders that both enlisted personnel and senior leaders must meet height, weight, and fitness requirements.
Speaking at a meeting with senior military officials in Virginia, Hegseth criticized the current state of readiness, saying it was “unacceptable” to see out-of-shape service members in combat units and even among generals and admirals at the Pentagon.
“It’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” Hegseth said. “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon, leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look, and it’s not who we are.”
Hegseth said new directives will require troops to maintain proper height and weight standards while passing regular fitness tests, part of his broader effort to reinforce what he has described as the military’s “warrior ethos.”
Alongside the physical standards, Hegseth announced what he called the end of “woke” culture within the armed forces, rolling out new training and readiness policies that will impose “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical performance.
President Donald Trump, who joined Hegseth at the meeting, echoed the call for tougher readiness measures. In his remarks, Trump proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces, saying such an approach would better prepare troops for modern conflict.
The announcements mark one of the most significant shifts in military culture and standards under the Trump administration’s current term, signaling a renewed focus on fitness, discipline, and traditional combat readiness.
