Hegses Visits Fort Benning, Emphasizes Military Deterrence

COLOMBUS, Ga. — On Thursday, during a visit to Fort Benning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses highlighted the efforts to restore U.S. military deterrence.

His remarks followed a speech at the Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduation ceremony, where candidates were commissioned as Army Deputy EU or Navy Sign Station officers. At a luncheon for the Basic Infantry Officers Leader Course later, Hegses shared a personal anecdote about his children wanting Army Ranger shirts, mentioning that nothing would make him prouder than to see them earn it.

Hegses also spoke about military priorities during the Trump administration, noting a strong focus on upgrading equipment and restructuring. He remarked, “When we reestablish deterrence, our adversaries will think twice about challenging us.” He emphasized the need for a clear show of strength in various military operations, such as freedom of navigation and combatting drug trafficking.

He pointed out that when President Trump makes a statement, it is taken seriously. Hegses stressed the importance of strong leadership at all levels, stating, “We need to empower our soldiers to act decisively in complex situations. It’s crucial that authority extends down to the squad and company levels.”

During the visit, there were hints that the Department of Defense might consider a name change. It was reportedly confirmed that Trump plans to issue an executive order to allow the term “The War Department” to be used alongside Hegses’ suggested title, “The War Chief.”

This order would also instruct Hegses to present ideas for making the name change permanent, emphasizing a commitment to evolving the military’s operational identity.