LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Last week, Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth participated in an early morning training session with the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at UCLA as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour.
Exclusive to Breitbart News, Hegseth’s tour in Southern California, which took place on Thursday and Friday, included visits to various manufacturers of aerospace and weapons technology, swearing-in ceremonies for Army and National Guard soldiers, and activities in near-freezing weather.
The Pentagon chief engaged with UCLA’s ROTC members as they navigated a workout circuit that featured stair runs, push-ups, deadlifts, and more.
Following the physical training, Hegseth delivered an encouraging speech and took photos with the cadets.
“There’s no better way to kick off Army Day bright and early. I have a reason for doing it this way,” he remarked. “Firstly, I train with amazing Americans wherever I go. Secondly, I want to stress from the outset that the basics are crucial: be prepared and stay fit.”
“You will become young officers who lead by example, right from the front,” he added. “It all begins with your morning routine and what you achieve throughout the day. If you skip PT, or don’t push yourselves during the hard PT, your unit will follow suit. It impacts all your training.”
The Army chief pointed out the importance of physical fitness standards, also humorously noting how his tradition of leading PT sessions across the country has turned into a sort of challenge dubbed ‘Smoking the Chief.’
“I don’t ask what’s planned for PT. I just show up. And it’s with the Navy Seals, the Green Berets, cadets, and Marines, rallying together and prepping them,” Hegseth commented. “You provide the motivation for my day; this is truly the highlight.”
After his time at UCLA, Hegseth visited the defense technology firm Castellion and aerospace company Rocket Lab, where he spoke with engineers. The previous day, he explored Divergent Technologies, a company specializing in 3D printing.
