On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses addressed senior U.S. military officials at Quantico, Virginia, stressing that he doesn’t want to see “fat generals and admirals” or overweight service members.
During this meeting, Hegses highlighted the importance of adhering to fitness standards, stating that every service member, regardless of rank, must undergo physical fitness testing and meet height and weight criteria twice a year.
“Honestly, it’s disheartening to see combat formations and notice overweight individuals,” he remarked. “It’s also unacceptable to see overweight generals and admirals leading in the Pentagon or elsewhere.”
“That’s not the image we want to project. It does not represent who we are,” he added.
Hegseth has been vocal about his vision for the Department of Defense, including initiatives like bringing police officers to a military base in Quantico. He previously stated that the U.S. military will require that participants in combat roles meet the highest physical fitness standards.
“We are not looking for women who can’t meet the combat fitness standards. It’s crucial that the standards apply uniformly, be gender-neutral, and remain high,” Hegses expressed. “We want individuals who meet those expectations and can lead effectively.”
Hegseth emphasized that these updated fitness requirements are part of a larger push to revive what he describes as the military’s “warrior spirit.” He frequently demonstrates physical exercises with service members at various bases and reiterated the expectation for all U.S. military personnel to maintain fitness standards.
“Everything begins with physical fitness and how we present ourselves. If the Secretary of Defense can regularly engage in rigorous training, then surely all members of our military can as well,” he remarked, referencing his role under the Trump administration.
“From now on, every member of our joint force, regardless of rank, must complete the PT test biannually and adhere to the service’s height and weight regulations,” he stated.
