WEBVTT 00:00.349 --> 00:02.700 Ladies and gentlemen , please welcome 00:02.869 --> 00:04.869 the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 00:04.869 --> 00:06.989 Staff , General Dan Kane . 00:14.449 --> 00:18.079 All right , generals , admirals , 00:18.209 --> 00:21.440 senior leaders , good morning . Wow , 00:21.850 --> 00:25.409 what a what a group here today . I will 00:25.409 --> 00:28.649 tell you that our enemies are terrified 00:28.649 --> 00:30.770 right now that we are all in the same 00:30.770 --> 00:33.580 room , and that is a a true statement . 00:34.209 --> 00:36.689 Welcome everyone to Marine Corps Base 00:36.689 --> 00:40.130 Quantico and the first ever key 00:40.130 --> 00:42.610 leaders all call to the commandants . 00:42.970 --> 00:45.229 And uh all of the Marines that have 00:45.229 --> 00:47.500 made this event possible , thank you . 00:47.909 --> 00:50.479 This was no small feat to put this 00:50.750 --> 00:53.310 event together in short order , and I'm 00:53.310 --> 00:55.630 glad there's pull-up bars just outside 00:55.630 --> 00:57.741 the seals in the corner out there are 00:57.741 --> 01:00.790 very happy about that . I regret to 01:00.790 --> 01:03.340 inform you there will not be a PT test 01:03.669 --> 01:06.269 after this event , um , because I know 01:06.269 --> 01:09.519 you all would crush it . Last night I 01:09.519 --> 01:11.352 had the privilege of joining the 01:11.352 --> 01:14.120 Secretary and the Joint Chiefs in 01:14.120 --> 01:17.379 honoring 50 Gold Star families at the 01:17.379 --> 01:19.650 White House as the president , the 01:19.650 --> 01:22.239 First Lady , and our nation honored 01:22.239 --> 01:24.199 their loved ones' service and 01:24.199 --> 01:27.550 sacrifices . Teammates , it was a quiet . 01:27.879 --> 01:31.029 And deeply meaningful event that 01:31.029 --> 01:33.379 reminded all of us that we're lucky 01:33.379 --> 01:36.160 enough to be there of the serious and 01:36.160 --> 01:38.830 unforgiving nature of the business that 01:38.830 --> 01:42.269 we are in fighting and winning our 01:42.269 --> 01:45.430 nation's wars . Leaders , we are living 01:45.430 --> 01:48.269 in dynamic and potentially dangerous 01:48.269 --> 01:51.459 times . Global risk is on the rise . 01:51.989 --> 01:55.220 Our adversaries are no longer aligning . 01:55.550 --> 01:58.080 They are aligned . And we must align 01:58.080 --> 02:02.069 with equal resolve and unity , even as 02:02.069 --> 02:06.000 we strive for and seek peace , we must 02:06.000 --> 02:09.759 be prepared for war . Now more than 02:09.759 --> 02:12.199 ever , it is vital that we hear from 02:12.199 --> 02:15.358 our civilian leaders understand where 02:15.358 --> 02:17.559 they're taking the department and the 02:17.559 --> 02:20.718 joint force , and today we have the 02:20.718 --> 02:24.358 unprecedented opportunity and honor to 02:24.358 --> 02:27.078 hear directly from the Secretary of the 02:27.078 --> 02:29.189 Secretary of War and our commander in 02:29.189 --> 02:32.520 chief . Together you and I and our 02:32.520 --> 02:35.080 civilian leaders have the honor of 02:35.080 --> 02:37.080 leading the finest military in the 02:37.080 --> 02:40.429 world . And we must seize every 02:40.429 --> 02:43.339 opportunity every day to prepare our 02:43.339 --> 02:46.720 joint force for the future . I am 02:46.720 --> 02:50.669 deeply humbled to serve with each and 02:50.669 --> 02:53.809 every one of you . And now it is my 02:53.809 --> 02:56.570 distinct honor to introduce our 02:56.570 --> 02:58.850 nation's Secretary of War , the 02:58.850 --> 03:00.240 Honorable Pete Hegseth . 03:05.429 --> 03:07.540 Thank you Mr . Chairman . Thank you . 03:10.699 --> 03:12.088 Please take your seats . 03:19.559 --> 03:22.729 Well , Mr . Chairman , The Joint Chiefs 03:23.820 --> 03:26.020 Generals , admirals , commanders , 03:26.139 --> 03:29.500 officers , senior listed NCOs , 03:29.580 --> 03:32.580 enlisted and every member . Of our 03:32.580 --> 03:34.910 American military . Good morning . 03:38.309 --> 03:41.619 Good morning . And welcome to the War 03:41.619 --> 03:45.399 Department . Because the era of the 03:45.399 --> 03:49.240 Department of Defense . Is over . You 03:49.240 --> 03:51.949 see , the motto of my first platoon was 03:51.949 --> 03:54.710 those who longed for peace must prepare 03:54.710 --> 03:57.220 for war . This is of course not a new 03:57.220 --> 03:59.460 idea . This crowd knows that . The 03:59.460 --> 04:01.516 origin dates to the 4th century Rome 04:01.516 --> 04:03.630 and has been repeated ever since , 04:03.979 --> 04:05.979 including by our first commander in 04:05.979 --> 04:08.090 chief , George Washington , the first 04:08.090 --> 04:11.229 leader . Of the War Department . It 04:11.229 --> 04:14.259 captures a simple yet profound truth . 04:15.210 --> 04:18.369 To ensure peace , we must prepare for 04:18.369 --> 04:21.269 war . From this moment forward , the 04:21.269 --> 04:24.109 only mission of the newly restored 04:24.109 --> 04:27.079 Department of War is this . War 04:27.079 --> 04:29.989 fighting Preparing for war and 04:29.989 --> 04:33.130 preparing to win . Unrelenting and 04:33.130 --> 04:36.890 uncompromising in that pursuit , not 04:36.890 --> 04:39.529 because we want war , no one here wants 04:39.529 --> 04:42.959 war . But it's because we love peace . 04:43.649 --> 04:46.279 We love peace for our fellow citizens , 04:46.529 --> 04:48.890 they deserve peace . And they 04:48.890 --> 04:51.369 rightfully expect us to deliver it . 04:53.149 --> 04:55.316 Our number one job , of course , is to 04:55.316 --> 04:58.109 be strong so that we can prevent war in 04:58.109 --> 05:01.000 the first place . The president talks 05:01.000 --> 05:03.000 about it all the time . It's called 05:03.000 --> 05:06.149 peace through strength . And as history 05:06.149 --> 05:07.982 teaches us , the only people who 05:07.982 --> 05:10.390 actually deserve peace are those who 05:10.390 --> 05:12.790 are willing to wage war to defend it . 05:13.600 --> 05:17.079 That's why pacifism is so naive and 05:17.079 --> 05:20.109 dangerous . It ignores human nature and 05:20.109 --> 05:23.970 it ignores human history . Either you 05:23.970 --> 05:26.290 protect your people and your 05:26.290 --> 05:28.089 sovereignty , or you will be 05:28.089 --> 05:31.109 subservient . To something or someone . 05:31.869 --> 05:34.220 It's a truth as old as time . 05:35.700 --> 05:38.209 And since waging war is so costly in 05:38.209 --> 05:39.987 blood and treasure , we owe our 05:39.987 --> 05:43.010 republic a military that will win any 05:43.010 --> 05:45.690 war we choose or any war that is thrust 05:45.690 --> 05:49.040 upon us . Should our enemies choose 05:49.040 --> 05:52.209 foolishly to challenge us , they will 05:52.209 --> 05:55.769 be crushed by the violence , precision . 05:56.489 --> 06:00.059 And ferocity of the War Department . In 06:00.059 --> 06:03.989 other words , To our enemies F 06:03.989 --> 06:06.200 A F O . 06:08.510 --> 06:10.732 If necessary , our troops can translate 06:10.732 --> 06:14.079 that for you . Another way to put it 06:14.079 --> 06:18.010 is peace through strength . Brought to 06:18.010 --> 06:21.130 you by the warrior ethos , and we are 06:21.130 --> 06:24.950 restoring both . As President Trump has 06:24.950 --> 06:26.950 said , and he's right , we have the 06:26.950 --> 06:29.172 strongest , most powerful , most lethal 06:29.172 --> 06:31.109 and most prepared military on the 06:31.109 --> 06:33.739 planet . That is true , full stop . 06:34.309 --> 06:36.589 Nobody can touch us . It's not even 06:36.589 --> 06:39.459 close . This is true largely because of 06:39.459 --> 06:41.570 the historic investments that he made 06:41.570 --> 06:43.348 in his first term , and we will 06:43.348 --> 06:46.079 continue in this term . But it's also 06:46.079 --> 06:48.079 true because of the leaders in this 06:48.079 --> 06:50.619 room . And the incredible troops that 06:50.619 --> 06:54.369 you all lead . But the world , and as 06:54.369 --> 06:56.519 the chairman mentioned , our enemies 06:56.519 --> 07:00.149 get a vote . You feel it , I feel it . 07:00.209 --> 07:03.839 This is a moment of urgency , mounting 07:03.839 --> 07:07.630 urgency . Enemies gather , threats 07:07.630 --> 07:11.390 grow . There is no time for games . We 07:11.390 --> 07:13.446 must be prepared . If we're going to 07:13.446 --> 07:16.619 prevent and avoid war , we must prepare 07:16.829 --> 07:20.109 now . We are the strength part of peace 07:20.109 --> 07:22.670 through strength , and either we're 07:22.670 --> 07:25.549 ready to win or we are not . 07:27.720 --> 07:29.887 You see , this urgent moment of course 07:29.887 --> 07:32.109 requires more troops , more munitions , 07:32.109 --> 07:34.053 more drones , more Patriots , more 07:34.053 --> 07:36.053 submarines , more B-21 bombers . It 07:36.053 --> 07:38.190 requires more innovation , more AI in 07:38.190 --> 07:40.301 everything , and ahead of the curve , 07:40.301 --> 07:42.523 more cyber effects , more counter UAS , 07:42.523 --> 07:44.579 more space , more speed . America is 07:44.579 --> 07:46.523 the strongest , but we need to get 07:46.523 --> 07:49.519 stronger and quickly . The time is now 07:49.790 --> 07:53.109 and the cause is urgent . The moment 07:53.109 --> 07:55.220 requires restoring and refocusing our 07:55.220 --> 07:56.887 defense industrial base , our 07:56.887 --> 07:58.998 shipbuilding industry , and onshoring 07:58.998 --> 08:01.220 all critical components . It requires , 08:01.220 --> 08:03.331 as President Trump has done , getting 08:03.331 --> 08:05.940 our allies and partners to step up and 08:05.940 --> 08:08.709 share the burden . America cannot do 08:08.709 --> 08:11.079 everything . The free world requires 08:11.079 --> 08:13.119 allies with real hard power , real 08:13.119 --> 08:15.660 military leadership , and real military 08:15.660 --> 08:18.369 capabilities . The War Department is 08:18.369 --> 08:20.536 tackling and prioritizing all of these 08:20.536 --> 08:22.591 things . And I'll be giving a speech 08:22.591 --> 08:24.925 next month that will showcase the speed , 08:24.925 --> 08:26.591 innovation , and generational 08:26.591 --> 08:28.758 acquisition reforms we are undertaking 08:28.758 --> 08:32.289 urgently . Likewise , the nature of the 08:32.289 --> 08:34.479 threats we face in our hemisphere and 08:34.479 --> 08:37.309 in deterring China is another speech 08:37.890 --> 08:40.929 for another day . Coming soon . 08:42.239 --> 08:45.968 This speech Today , as I drink my 08:45.968 --> 08:49.280 coffee . This speech 08:50.229 --> 08:53.289 Today is about people . And it's about 08:53.289 --> 08:56.960 culture . The topic today is about the 08:56.960 --> 09:00.700 nature of ourselves . Because 09:00.700 --> 09:03.049 no plan , no program , no no reform , 09:03.219 --> 09:05.275 no formation will ultimately succeed 09:05.275 --> 09:07.609 unless we have the right people . And 09:07.609 --> 09:10.330 the right culture at the War Department . 09:11.719 --> 09:13.830 If I've learned one core lesson in my 09:13.830 --> 09:15.886 eight months in this job , it's that 09:15.886 --> 09:19.059 personnel is policy . Personnel is 09:19.059 --> 09:21.960 policy . The best way to take care of 09:21.960 --> 09:24.400 troops is to give them good leaders 09:24.400 --> 09:26.511 committed to the war fighting culture 09:26.511 --> 09:28.844 of the department , not perfect leaders . 09:29.719 --> 09:33.059 Good leaders Competent , qualified , 09:33.369 --> 09:35.489 professional , agile , aggressive , 09:35.700 --> 09:38.250 innovative , risk taking , apolitical , 09:38.419 --> 09:40.640 faithful to their oath and to the 09:40.640 --> 09:44.460 Constitution . Eugene Sledge in his 09:44.460 --> 09:47.510 World War II memoir wrote , quote , War 09:47.510 --> 09:50.260 is brutish , inglorious and a terrible 09:50.260 --> 09:52.940 waste . Combat leaves an indelible mark 09:52.940 --> 09:55.107 on those who are forced to endure it . 09:55.780 --> 09:57.669 The only redeeming factors are my 09:57.669 --> 10:00.219 comrades' incredible bravery and their 10:00.219 --> 10:03.820 devotion to each other . In combat 10:03.820 --> 10:06.042 there are thousands of variables , as I 10:06.042 --> 10:08.209 learned in Iraq and Afghanistan and as 10:08.209 --> 10:10.153 so many of you did in so many more 10:10.153 --> 10:12.510 places . Leaders can only control about 10:12.510 --> 10:15.590 3 of them . You control how well you're 10:15.590 --> 10:18.030 trained , mostly how well you're 10:18.030 --> 10:21.090 equipped . And the last variable is how 10:21.090 --> 10:24.049 well you lead . After that , you're on 10:24.049 --> 10:26.559 your own . Our war fighters are 10:26.559 --> 10:28.840 entitled to be led by the best and most 10:28.840 --> 10:32.010 capable leaders . That is who we need 10:32.239 --> 10:35.260 you all to be . Even then in combat , 10:35.340 --> 10:37.451 even if you do everything right , you 10:37.451 --> 10:39.673 may still lose people because the enemy 10:39.673 --> 10:41.784 always gets a vote . We have a sacred 10:41.784 --> 10:43.840 duty to ensure that our warriors are 10:43.840 --> 10:45.951 led by the most capable and qualified 10:45.951 --> 10:48.118 combat leaders . This is one thing you 10:48.118 --> 10:50.380 and I can control . And we owe it to 10:50.380 --> 10:54.369 the force to deliver it . For too long 10:55.250 --> 10:57.919 We've simply not done that . The 10:57.919 --> 11:00.141 military has been forced by foolish and 11:00.141 --> 11:02.799 reckless politicians to focus on the 11:02.799 --> 11:06.090 wrong things . In many ways this speech 11:06.090 --> 11:09.489 is about fixing decades of decay . Some 11:09.489 --> 11:13.330 of it obvious , some of it hidden . Or 11:13.330 --> 11:15.330 as the chairman has put it , we are 11:15.330 --> 11:18.539 clearing out the debris . Removing the 11:18.539 --> 11:21.640 distractions . Clearing the way for 11:21.640 --> 11:25.450 leaders to be leaders . You might 11:25.450 --> 11:29.049 say we're ending the war on warriors . 11:30.309 --> 11:32.642 I heard someone wrote a book about that . 11:34.169 --> 11:36.225 For too long we've promoted too many 11:36.225 --> 11:38.558 uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons . 11:39.109 --> 11:41.750 Based on their race , based on gender 11:41.750 --> 11:44.580 quotas , based on historic so-called 11:44.580 --> 11:47.440 firsts . We've pretended that combat 11:47.440 --> 11:49.551 arms and non-combat arms are the same 11:49.551 --> 11:52.049 thing . We've weeded out so-called 11:52.049 --> 11:54.271 toxic leaders under the guise of double 11:54.271 --> 11:55.993 blind psychology assessments . 11:56.520 --> 11:58.631 Promoting risk averse go along to get 11:58.631 --> 12:02.369 along conformists instead . You name it , 12:02.650 --> 12:05.450 the department did it . Foolish and 12:05.450 --> 12:07.394 reckless political leaders set the 12:07.394 --> 12:10.479 wrong compass heading . And we lost our 12:10.479 --> 12:14.330 way . We became The woke 12:14.330 --> 12:18.210 department But not anymore . Right 12:18.210 --> 12:20.210 now I'm looking out at a sea of 12:20.210 --> 12:23.250 Americans who made a choice . When they 12:23.250 --> 12:26.780 were young men and young women . To do 12:26.780 --> 12:29.169 something most Americans will not , to 12:29.169 --> 12:31.391 serve something greater than yourself , 12:31.391 --> 12:33.225 to fight for God and country for 12:33.225 --> 12:35.409 freedom in the Constitution . You made 12:35.409 --> 12:38.159 a choice to serve when others did not . 12:38.840 --> 12:42.340 And I commend you . You are truly the 12:42.340 --> 12:46.159 best of America . But this does not 12:46.159 --> 12:48.215 mean , and this goes for all of us , 12:48.469 --> 12:50.719 that our path to this auditorium on 12:50.719 --> 12:53.200 this day was a straight line , or that 12:53.200 --> 12:55.200 the conditions of the formations we 12:55.200 --> 12:58.739 lead are where we want them to be . You 12:58.739 --> 13:00.795 love your country , and we love this 13:00.795 --> 13:03.679 uniform , which is why we must do 13:03.979 --> 13:07.469 better . We just have to be honest . 13:08.000 --> 13:10.167 We have to say with our mouths what we 13:10.167 --> 13:12.359 see with our eyes . To just tell it 13:12.359 --> 13:15.179 like it is in plain English . To point 13:15.179 --> 13:18.580 out the obvious things right in front 13:18.580 --> 13:21.530 of us . That's what leaders must do . 13:22.650 --> 13:24.590 We cannot go another day without 13:24.590 --> 13:27.400 directly addressing the plank . In our 13:27.400 --> 13:30.059 own eye . Without addressing the 13:30.059 --> 13:32.380 problems in our own commands and in our 13:32.380 --> 13:33.460 own formations . 13:36.619 --> 13:38.675 This administration has done a great 13:38.675 --> 13:41.119 deal from day one . To remove the 13:41.119 --> 13:43.175 social justice , politically correct 13:43.175 --> 13:45.599 and toxic ideological garbage that had 13:45.599 --> 13:48.599 infected our department to rip out . 13:49.289 --> 13:53.090 The politics No more identity months , 13:53.679 --> 13:57.390 DEI offices , dudes in dresses . 13:58.780 --> 14:00.780 No more climate change worship . No 14:00.780 --> 14:03.002 more division , distraction , or gender 14:03.002 --> 14:06.390 delusions . No more debris . As I've 14:06.390 --> 14:09.940 said before and will say again . We are 14:09.940 --> 14:13.320 done with that . I've made it my 14:13.320 --> 14:15.159 mission to uproot the obvious 14:15.159 --> 14:17.326 distractions that made us less capable 14:17.326 --> 14:21.229 and less lethal . That said , the 14:21.229 --> 14:24.190 war department requires the next step . 14:25.570 --> 14:28.010 Underneath the woke garbage is a deeper 14:28.010 --> 14:30.066 problem and a more important problem 14:30.066 --> 14:32.121 that we are fixing and fixing fast . 14:32.969 --> 14:35.302 Common sense is back at the White House , 14:35.539 --> 14:38.090 so making the necessary changes is 14:38.090 --> 14:39.979 actually pretty straightforward . 14:40.880 --> 14:43.650 President Trump expects it . And the 14:43.650 --> 14:46.179 litmus test for these changes . 14:47.530 --> 14:50.770 It's pretty simple . Would I want my 14:50.770 --> 14:53.909 eldest son . Who is 15 years old . 14:56.000 --> 14:57.778 Eventually joining the types of 14:57.778 --> 14:59.611 formations that we are currently 14:59.611 --> 15:01.919 wielding . If in any way the answer to 15:01.919 --> 15:05.479 that is no or even yes , but . Then 15:05.479 --> 15:07.770 we're doing something wrong . Because 15:07.770 --> 15:09.840 my son is no more important than any 15:09.840 --> 15:11.840 other American citizen who dons the 15:11.840 --> 15:14.400 cloth of our nation . He is no more 15:14.400 --> 15:17.719 important than your son . All precious 15:17.719 --> 15:19.941 souls made in the image and likeness of 15:19.941 --> 15:22.000 God . Every parent deserves to know 15:22.000 --> 15:24.450 that their son or their daughter that 15:24.450 --> 15:27.409 joins our ranks is entering exactly the 15:27.409 --> 15:30.400 kind of unit that the secretary of war 15:30.400 --> 15:33.880 would want his son to join . Think of 15:33.880 --> 15:36.070 it as the golden rule test . 15:37.520 --> 15:39.760 Jesus said , do unto others , that's 15:39.760 --> 15:42.038 what you would have done unto yourself . 15:42.099 --> 15:44.700 It's the ultimate simplifying test of 15:44.700 --> 15:47.789 truth . The new War Department golden 15:47.789 --> 15:51.719 rule . Is this Do unto your 15:51.719 --> 15:54.880 unit , as you would have done onto your 15:54.880 --> 15:58.609 own child's unit . Would you want him 15:58.609 --> 16:00.760 serving with fat or unfit or 16:00.760 --> 16:03.450 undertrained troops or alongside people 16:03.450 --> 16:06.239 who can't meet basic standards ? Or in 16:06.239 --> 16:08.406 a unit where standards were lowered so 16:08.406 --> 16:10.517 certain types of troops could make it 16:10.517 --> 16:12.406 in . In a unit where leaders were 16:12.406 --> 16:14.628 promoted for reasons other than merit , 16:14.628 --> 16:17.590 performance , and war fighting . The 16:17.590 --> 16:20.229 answer is not just no , it's hell no . 16:21.330 --> 16:23.497 This means at the War Department first 16:23.497 --> 16:26.919 and foremost we must restore a ruthless . 16:27.679 --> 16:30.630 Dispassionate And common sense 16:30.630 --> 16:34.130 application of standards . I don't want 16:34.130 --> 16:36.539 my son serving alongside troops who are 16:36.539 --> 16:38.940 out of shape or in combat unit with 16:38.940 --> 16:41.107 females who can't meet the same combat 16:41.107 --> 16:43.219 arms physical standards as men or 16:43.219 --> 16:45.386 troops who are not fully proficient on 16:45.386 --> 16:47.719 their assigned weapons platform or task . 16:48.090 --> 16:51.260 Or under a leader who was The first 16:52.080 --> 16:55.200 But not the best . Standards must be 16:55.200 --> 16:58.750 uniform , gender neutral , and high . 17:00.270 --> 17:02.570 If not , they're not standards . 17:03.549 --> 17:07.040 They're just suggestions . Suggestions 17:07.329 --> 17:10.329 that get our sons and daughters killed . 17:11.969 --> 17:14.025 When it comes to combat arms units , 17:14.025 --> 17:16.080 and there are many different stripes 17:16.080 --> 17:19.319 across our joint force . The era of 17:20.010 --> 17:22.859 politically correct . Overly sensitive , 17:22.920 --> 17:24.642 don't hurt anyone's feelings . 17:24.642 --> 17:28.520 Leadership ends right now . At 17:28.520 --> 17:31.160 every level , either you can meet the 17:31.160 --> 17:33.327 standard , either you can do the job , 17:33.327 --> 17:35.680 either you are disciplined , fit and 17:35.680 --> 17:39.500 trained , or you are out . And that's 17:39.500 --> 17:41.989 why today at my direction , and this is 17:41.989 --> 17:44.300 the first of 10 Department of War 17:44.300 --> 17:46.739 directives that are arriving at your 17:46.739 --> 17:49.030 commands as we speak and in your inbox . 17:50.250 --> 17:52.890 Today at my direction , each service 17:52.890 --> 17:55.057 will ensure that every requirement for 17:55.057 --> 17:58.479 every combat MOS for every designated 17:58.479 --> 18:01.290 combat arms position returns to the 18:01.290 --> 18:03.449 highest male standard only . 18:05.069 --> 18:07.290 Because this job is life or death . 18:07.790 --> 18:10.140 Standards must be met and not just met 18:10.140 --> 18:12.084 at every level , we should seek to 18:12.084 --> 18:13.973 exceed the standard , to push the 18:13.973 --> 18:16.229 envelope , to compete . It's common 18:16.229 --> 18:18.780 sense and core to who we are and what 18:18.780 --> 18:22.579 we do , it should be in our DNA . Today 18:22.579 --> 18:24.746 at my direction , we are also adding a 18:24.746 --> 18:27.630 combat field test for combat arms units 18:27.630 --> 18:29.859 that must be executable in any 18:29.859 --> 18:32.081 environment at any time and with combat 18:32.081 --> 18:35.270 equipment . These tests , they'll look 18:35.270 --> 18:37.326 familiar . They'll resemble the Army 18:37.326 --> 18:39.548 expert physical fitness assessment . Or 18:39.548 --> 18:41.969 the Marine Corps combat fitness test . 18:43.160 --> 18:45.382 I'm also directing that war fighters in 18:45.382 --> 18:47.300 combat jobs execute their service 18:47.300 --> 18:50.180 fitness test at a gender neutral age 18:50.180 --> 18:53.130 normed male standard scored above 18:53.130 --> 18:56.760 70% . It all starts with physical 18:56.760 --> 18:59.369 fitness and appearance . If the 18:59.369 --> 19:02.369 Secretary of War can do regular hard PT , 19:03.050 --> 19:05.328 so can every member of our joint force . 19:06.469 --> 19:08.729 Frankly , it's tiring to look out at 19:08.729 --> 19:10.507 combat formations or really any 19:10.507 --> 19:14.479 formation and see fat troops . Likewise , 19:14.540 --> 19:16.762 it's completely unacceptable to see fat 19:16.762 --> 19:18.873 generals and admirals in the halls of 19:18.873 --> 19:20.873 the Pentagon . And leading commands 19:20.873 --> 19:23.040 around the country in the world , it's 19:23.040 --> 19:25.262 a bad look . It is bad and it's not who 19:25.262 --> 19:27.429 we are . So whether you're an airborne 19:27.429 --> 19:29.373 ranger or a chair-borne ranger , a 19:29.373 --> 19:31.207 brand new private or a four-star 19:31.207 --> 19:33.318 general , you need to meet the height 19:33.318 --> 19:35.429 and weight standards and pass your PT 19:35.429 --> 19:37.651 test . And as the chairman said , yes , 19:37.651 --> 19:40.469 there is no PT test . But today at my 19:40.469 --> 19:42.580 direction , every member of the joint 19:42.580 --> 19:44.802 force at every rank is required to take 19:44.802 --> 19:48.079 a PT test twice a year . As well as 19:48.079 --> 19:50.079 meet height and weight requirements 19:50.079 --> 19:53.770 twice a year . Every year of service . 19:55.500 --> 19:57.660 Also today at my direction , every 19:57.660 --> 19:59.939 warrior across our joint force is 19:59.939 --> 20:02.930 required to do PT every duty day . 20:03.219 --> 20:05.386 Should be common sense . I mean , most 20:05.386 --> 20:07.275 units do that already . But we're 20:07.275 --> 20:09.330 codifying it . And we're not talking 20:09.330 --> 20:12.209 like hot yoga and stretching . Real 20:12.209 --> 20:14.969 hard PT there's either as a unit or as 20:14.969 --> 20:17.530 an individual . At every level , from 20:17.530 --> 20:19.586 the Joint Chiefs to everyone in this 20:19.586 --> 20:21.641 room to the youngest private leaders 20:21.641 --> 20:23.752 set the standard , and so many of you 20:23.752 --> 20:26.170 do this already . Active , guard and 20:26.170 --> 20:29.250 reserve . This also means grooming 20:29.250 --> 20:33.189 standards . No more beards , long hair , 20:33.479 --> 20:35.479 superficial individual expression . 20:35.479 --> 20:37.423 We're gonna cut our hair , shave , 20:37.423 --> 20:39.146 shave our beards and adhere to 20:39.146 --> 20:41.312 standards . Cause it's like the broken 20:41.312 --> 20:43.479 windows theory of policing , it's like 20:43.479 --> 20:45.590 when you let the small stuff go , the 20:45.590 --> 20:47.812 big stuff eventually goes . So you have 20:47.812 --> 20:50.035 to address the small stuff . This is on 20:50.035 --> 20:52.201 duty in the field and in the rear . If 20:52.201 --> 20:54.423 you want a beard , you can join special 20:54.423 --> 20:57.119 forces . If not , then shave . We don't 20:57.119 --> 20:59.829 have a military full of Nordic pagans . 21:01.109 --> 21:03.220 But unfortunately we have had leaders 21:03.220 --> 21:05.053 who either refuse to call BS and 21:05.053 --> 21:07.420 enforce standards . Or leaders who felt 21:07.420 --> 21:09.739 like they were not allowed to enforce 21:09.739 --> 21:12.650 standards . Both are unacceptable . 21:13.930 --> 21:16.097 And that's why today at my direction , 21:16.097 --> 21:18.319 the era of unprofessional appearance is 21:18.319 --> 21:22.170 over . No more beardos . The era of 21:22.170 --> 21:24.392 rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles 21:24.392 --> 21:27.160 is done . Simply put , if you do not 21:27.160 --> 21:29.327 meet the male level physical standards 21:29.327 --> 21:31.800 for combat positions , cannot pass a PT 21:31.800 --> 21:33.856 test or don't want to shave and look 21:33.856 --> 21:35.800 professional . It's time for a new 21:35.800 --> 21:38.500 position or a new profession . 21:40.150 --> 21:42.206 I sincerely appreciate the proactive 21:42.206 --> 21:44.261 efforts the secretaries have already 21:44.261 --> 21:46.428 taken in some of those areas , service 21:46.428 --> 21:48.594 secretaries . And these directives are 21:48.594 --> 21:50.594 intended to simply accelerate those 21:50.594 --> 21:54.420 efforts . On the topic of standards , 21:54.780 --> 21:56.910 allow me a few words to talk about 21:56.910 --> 22:00.790 toxic leaders . Upholding and 22:00.790 --> 22:04.030 demanding high standards is not toxic . 22:05.130 --> 22:08.469 Enforcing high standards , not toxic 22:08.469 --> 22:11.079 leadership . Leading war fighters 22:11.079 --> 22:13.599 toward the goals of high gender neutral 22:13.599 --> 22:15.710 and uncompromising standards in order 22:15.710 --> 22:18.359 to forge a cohesive , formidable , and 22:18.359 --> 22:21.910 lethal department of war is not toxic . 22:23.099 --> 22:25.790 It is our duty Consistent with our 22:25.790 --> 22:29.020 constitutional oath . Real toxic 22:29.020 --> 22:31.187 leadership is endangering subordinates 22:31.187 --> 22:33.239 with low standards . Real toxic 22:33.239 --> 22:35.461 leadership is promoting people based on 22:35.461 --> 22:37.461 immutable characteristics or quotas 22:37.670 --> 22:39.920 instead of based on merit . Real toxic 22:39.920 --> 22:42.000 leadership is promoting destructive 22:42.000 --> 22:44.520 ideologies that are an anathema to the 22:44.520 --> 22:46.742 Constitution and the laws of nature and 22:46.742 --> 22:48.760 nature's God , as Thomas Jefferson 22:48.760 --> 22:50.316 wrote in the Declaration of 22:50.316 --> 22:54.199 Independence . The definition of toxic 22:54.199 --> 22:57.069 has been turned upside down . And we're 22:57.069 --> 22:59.479 correcting that . That's why today at 22:59.479 --> 23:01.590 my direction we're undertaking a full 23:01.590 --> 23:03.757 review of the department's definitions 23:03.757 --> 23:05.890 of so-called toxic leadership , 23:06.280 --> 23:09.250 bullying and hazing . To empower 23:09.250 --> 23:11.306 leaders to enforce standards without 23:11.306 --> 23:13.880 fear of retribution or second guessing . 23:14.609 --> 23:16.560 Of course you can't do like nasty 23:16.560 --> 23:18.560 bullying and hazing . We're talking 23:18.560 --> 23:20.616 about words like bullying and hazing 23:20.616 --> 23:22.838 and toxic . They've been weaponized and 23:22.838 --> 23:24.838 bastardized inside our formations , 23:24.838 --> 23:26.949 undercutting commanders and NCOs . No 23:26.949 --> 23:29.869 more . Setting , achieving and 23:29.869 --> 23:32.036 maintaining high standards is what you 23:32.036 --> 23:34.819 all do . And if that makes me toxic , 23:34.859 --> 23:37.750 then so be it . Second , 23:38.750 --> 23:40.972 Today in our direction , we're ensuring 23:40.972 --> 23:43.194 that every service , every unit , every 23:43.194 --> 23:44.972 schoolhouse , and every form of 23:44.972 --> 23:47.194 professional military education conduct 23:47.194 --> 23:49.472 an immediate review of their standards . 23:49.839 --> 23:51.783 Now we've done this in many places 23:51.783 --> 23:53.950 already , but today it goes across the 23:53.950 --> 23:57.430 entire department of war . Any place 23:57.430 --> 24:00.109 where tried and true physical standards 24:00.109 --> 24:03.380 were altered . Especially since 2015 24:03.380 --> 24:05.819 when combat arms standards were changed 24:05.819 --> 24:08.540 to ensure females could qualify , must 24:08.540 --> 24:10.818 be returned to their original standard . 24:12.079 --> 24:14.190 Other standards have been manipulated 24:14.190 --> 24:16.412 to hit racial quotas as well , which is 24:16.412 --> 24:18.468 just as unacceptable . This too must 24:18.468 --> 24:20.719 end , merit only . The president talks 24:20.719 --> 24:22.830 about it all the time , merit based . 24:23.449 --> 24:25.505 Here are two basic frameworks I urge 24:25.505 --> 24:27.282 you to pursue in this process . 24:27.969 --> 24:30.250 Standards I call my staffs are all 24:30.250 --> 24:34.130 about them . The 1990 test . And the 24:34.130 --> 24:38.130 E6 test . The 1990s 24:38.130 --> 24:41.219 test is simple . What were the military 24:41.219 --> 24:44.839 standards in 1990 ? And if they have 24:44.839 --> 24:48.829 changed . Tell me why . Was it 24:48.920 --> 24:50.698 a necessary change based on the 24:50.698 --> 24:53.719 evolving landscape of combat ? Or was 24:53.719 --> 24:55.560 the change due to a softening , 24:55.680 --> 24:57.736 weakening or gender-based pursuit of 24:57.736 --> 25:01.390 other priorities ? 1990s seems to be as 25:01.390 --> 25:04.589 good a place to start as any . And the 25:04.589 --> 25:07.890 E6 test . Ask yourself , does what 25:07.890 --> 25:10.280 you're doing make the leadership , 25:10.619 --> 25:12.786 accountability , and lethality efforts 25:12.786 --> 25:15.939 of an E6 , or , or frankly an 03 ? Does 25:15.939 --> 25:18.410 it make it easier or more complicated ? 25:19.530 --> 25:21.863 Does the change empower staff sergeants , 25:21.863 --> 25:23.919 petty officers and tech sergeants to 25:23.919 --> 25:26.290 get back to basics ? The answer should 25:26.290 --> 25:30.199 be a resounding yes . The E6 test or 25:30.199 --> 25:33.369 03 test clarifies a lot and it 25:33.369 --> 25:36.800 clarifies quickly . Because war does 25:36.800 --> 25:38.911 not care if you're a man or a woman . 25:39.910 --> 25:42.150 Neither does the enemy , nor does the 25:42.150 --> 25:44.261 weight of your rucksack , the size of 25:44.261 --> 25:46.483 an artillery round , or the body weight 25:46.483 --> 25:48.539 of a casualty on the battlefield who 25:48.539 --> 25:50.760 must be carried . This , and I want to 25:50.760 --> 25:53.410 be very clear about this . This is not 25:53.410 --> 25:55.521 about preventing women from serving . 25:55.839 --> 25:58.969 We are , we very much value the impact 25:59.329 --> 26:01.496 of female troops . Our female officers 26:01.496 --> 26:04.729 and NCOs are the absolute best in the 26:04.729 --> 26:08.500 world . But when it comes to any job 26:08.500 --> 26:11.030 that requires physical power to perform 26:11.030 --> 26:13.086 in combat , those physical standards 26:13.086 --> 26:16.060 must be high and gender neutral . If 26:16.060 --> 26:19.380 women can make it , excellent . If not , 26:19.630 --> 26:22.099 it is what it is . If that means no 26:22.099 --> 26:24.489 women qualify for some combat jobs , so 26:24.489 --> 26:28.319 be it . That is not the intent But it 26:28.319 --> 26:31.969 could be the result , so be it . It 26:31.969 --> 26:34.080 will also mean that we mean that weak 26:34.080 --> 26:36.080 men won't qualify because we're not 26:36.080 --> 26:38.191 playing games . This is combat . This 26:38.191 --> 26:40.640 is life or death . As we all know , 26:40.750 --> 26:42.861 this is you versus an enemy hell bent 26:42.861 --> 26:45.930 on killing you . To be an effective 26:45.930 --> 26:48.449 lethal fighting force , you must trust 26:48.449 --> 26:50.390 that the warrior alongside you in 26:50.390 --> 26:54.099 battle is capable . Truly , 26:54.260 --> 26:56.260 physically capable of doing what is 26:56.260 --> 26:58.880 necessary under fire . You know , this 26:58.880 --> 27:01.439 is the only standard you would want for 27:01.439 --> 27:03.520 your kids and for your grandkids . 27:04.650 --> 27:06.928 Applied the War Department golden rule , 27:06.928 --> 27:10.380 the 1990 test , and the E6 test . It's 27:10.380 --> 27:13.250 really hard to go wrong . Third , 27:15.479 --> 27:17.701 We are attacking and ending the walking 27:17.701 --> 27:20.319 on eggshells and zero defect command 27:20.319 --> 27:23.969 culture . A risk averse culture means 27:23.969 --> 27:27.530 officers execute not to lose , instead 27:27.530 --> 27:30.750 of to win . A risk averse culture means 27:30.750 --> 27:32.709 NCOs are not empowered to enforce 27:32.709 --> 27:35.310 standards . Commanders and NCOs don't 27:35.310 --> 27:37.390 take necessary risks or make tough 27:37.390 --> 27:39.630 adjustments for fear of rocking the 27:39.630 --> 27:43.099 boat or making mistakes . A 27:43.099 --> 27:46.339 blemish free record is what peacetime 27:46.339 --> 27:49.290 leaders covet the most . Which is the 27:49.290 --> 27:53.239 worst of all incentives . You , 27:53.369 --> 27:56.410 we , as senior leaders need to end the 27:56.410 --> 27:59.130 poisonous culture of risk aversion and 27:59.130 --> 28:01.420 empower our NCOs at all levels to 28:01.420 --> 28:05.239 enforce standards . Truth be told , 28:05.449 --> 28:07.560 for the most part , we don't need new 28:07.560 --> 28:09.782 standards . We just need to reestablish 28:09.782 --> 28:11.949 a culture where enforcing standards is 28:11.949 --> 28:14.560 possible . And that's why today at my 28:14.560 --> 28:17.079 direction , I'm issuing new policies 28:17.079 --> 28:20.160 that will overhaul the IG , EO , and 28:20.160 --> 28:23.810 MEO processes . I call it the no more 28:23.810 --> 28:27.140 walking on eggshells policy . We are 28:27.140 --> 28:30.579 liberating commanders and NCOs , we are 28:30.579 --> 28:34.439 liberating you . We are overhauling an 28:34.439 --> 28:37.000 inspector general process , the IG that 28:37.000 --> 28:39.290 has been weaponized , putting 28:39.290 --> 28:42.000 complainers , ideologues and poor 28:42.000 --> 28:44.939 performers in the driver's seat . We're 28:44.939 --> 28:46.606 doing the same with the equal 28:46.606 --> 28:48.328 opportunity and military equal 28:48.328 --> 28:51.420 opportunity policies , the EO and MEO 28:51.420 --> 28:54.540 at our department . No more frivolous 28:54.540 --> 28:56.819 complaints , no more anonymous 28:56.819 --> 28:58.689 complaints , no more repeat 28:58.689 --> 29:00.500 complainants , no more smearing 29:00.500 --> 29:02.722 reputations , no more endless waiting , 29:02.722 --> 29:04.500 no more legal limbo , no more 29:04.500 --> 29:07.819 sidetracking careers , no more walking 29:07.819 --> 29:11.359 on eggshells . Of course , 29:12.010 --> 29:14.609 being a racist has been illegal in our 29:14.609 --> 29:18.280 formation since 1948 . The same goes 29:18.280 --> 29:21.260 for sexual harassment . Both are wrong 29:21.760 --> 29:23.790 and illegal . Those kinds of 29:23.790 --> 29:26.829 infractions will be ruthlessly enforced . 29:28.189 --> 29:30.300 But telling someone to shave or get a 29:30.300 --> 29:32.356 haircut or to get in shape or to fix 29:32.356 --> 29:34.522 their uniform or to show up on time or 29:34.522 --> 29:36.689 to work hard , that's exactly the kind 29:36.689 --> 29:38.856 of discrimination we want . We are not 29:38.856 --> 29:41.180 civilians . You are not civilians . You 29:41.180 --> 29:44.290 are set apart for a distinct purpose . 29:45.140 --> 29:47.084 So we as a department need to stop 29:47.084 --> 29:49.251 acting and thinking like civilians and 29:49.251 --> 29:51.307 get back to basics and put the power 29:51.307 --> 29:53.307 back in the hands of commanders and 29:53.307 --> 29:55.307 NCOs , commanders and NCOs who make 29:55.307 --> 29:58.709 life and death decisions , commanders 29:58.709 --> 30:00.653 and NCOs who enforce standards and 30:00.653 --> 30:04.020 ensure readiness , commanders and NCOs 30:04.020 --> 30:06.930 who in this war department . Have to 30:06.930 --> 30:09.369 look in the mirror . And you have to 30:09.369 --> 30:13.219 pass the golden rule test . My kids , 30:13.670 --> 30:16.670 your kids , America's sons and 30:16.670 --> 30:19.930 daughters . So I urge you all here 30:19.930 --> 30:21.986 today and those watching , take this 30:21.986 --> 30:24.920 guidance and run with it . The core of 30:24.920 --> 30:27.087 this speech is the 10 directives we're 30:27.087 --> 30:29.142 announcing today . They were written 30:29.142 --> 30:32.209 for you . For Army leadership , for 30:32.209 --> 30:34.153 Navy leadership , for Marine Corps 30:34.153 --> 30:36.376 leadership , for Air Force leadership , 30:36.376 --> 30:38.098 Space Force leadership , these 30:38.098 --> 30:40.098 directives are designed to take the 30:40.098 --> 30:42.709 monkey off your back . And put you , 30:42.719 --> 30:44.830 the leadership , back in the driver's 30:44.830 --> 30:47.989 seat . Move out with urgency because we 30:47.989 --> 30:51.069 have your back . I have your back , and 30:51.069 --> 30:53.619 the commander in chief has your back . 30:55.630 --> 30:57.852 And when we give you this guidance , we 30:57.852 --> 31:00.250 know mistakes will be made . It's the 31:00.250 --> 31:02.361 nature of leadership . But you should 31:02.361 --> 31:04.472 not pay for earnest mistakes for your 31:04.472 --> 31:06.949 entire career . And that's why today at 31:06.949 --> 31:09.239 my direction , we're making changes to 31:09.239 --> 31:11.461 the retention of adverse information on 31:11.461 --> 31:13.449 personnel records that will allow 31:13.449 --> 31:15.839 leaders with forgivable , earnest , or 31:15.839 --> 31:18.089 minor infractions to not be encumbered 31:18.089 --> 31:20.145 by those infractions in perpetuity . 31:20.890 --> 31:23.599 People make honest mistakes , and our 31:23.599 --> 31:25.655 mistakes should not define an entire 31:25.655 --> 31:28.089 career . Otherwise we only try not to 31:28.089 --> 31:29.922 make mistakes and that's not the 31:29.922 --> 31:32.199 business we're in . We need risk takers 31:32.439 --> 31:35.229 and aggressive leaders and a culture 31:35.520 --> 31:39.390 that supports you . 4th , at 31:39.390 --> 31:41.557 the War Department , promotions across 31:41.557 --> 31:43.612 the joint force will be based on one 31:43.612 --> 31:46.869 thing . Merit . Color blind , gender 31:46.869 --> 31:49.150 neutral , merit-based . The entire 31:49.150 --> 31:50.817 promotion process , including 31:50.817 --> 31:52.372 evaluations of war fighting 31:52.372 --> 31:54.317 capabilities , is being thoroughly 31:54.317 --> 31:56.483 re-examined . We've already done a lot 31:56.483 --> 31:58.483 in this area , but more changes are 31:58.483 --> 32:01.209 coming soon . We promote top performing 32:01.209 --> 32:04.209 officers and NCOs faster . And get rid 32:04.209 --> 32:06.199 of poor performers more quickly . 32:07.060 --> 32:10.140 Evaluations , education , and field 32:10.140 --> 32:12.619 exercises . Will become real 32:12.619 --> 32:14.979 evaluations , not box checks for every 32:14.979 --> 32:16.930 one of us at every level . 32:18.959 --> 32:20.903 These same reforms happened before 32:20.903 --> 32:23.000 World War 2 as well . General George 32:23.000 --> 32:25.510 Marshall and Secretary of War Henry 32:25.510 --> 32:28.910 Stimson did the same thing . And we won 32:28.910 --> 32:32.030 a world war because of it . As it 32:32.030 --> 32:34.030 happens , when he started the job , 32:34.030 --> 32:36.869 Chairman Kaine gave me a frame and a 32:36.869 --> 32:39.800 photo to hang in my office . A matching 32:39.800 --> 32:42.290 frame and photo hangs in his . 32:43.609 --> 32:45.776 It's a photo of Marshall and Stimson . 32:46.010 --> 32:48.859 Preparing for World War II . Those two 32:48.859 --> 32:51.069 leaders famously kept the door open 32:51.069 --> 32:53.560 between their offices for the entirety 32:53.560 --> 32:56.099 of the war . They worked together , 32:56.260 --> 32:59.459 civilian and uniform every single day . 33:00.599 --> 33:02.543 Chairman Kaine and I do the same . 33:02.719 --> 33:04.830 There is no daylight between us . Our 33:04.830 --> 33:07.180 doors are always open . Our job 33:07.180 --> 33:09.790 together is to ensure our military is 33:09.790 --> 33:12.900 led by the very best . Ready to answer 33:13.140 --> 33:17.099 the nation's call . 5th 33:18.119 --> 33:21.910 As you have seen , And the media has 33:21.910 --> 33:24.709 obsessed over . I have fired a number 33:24.709 --> 33:26.876 of senior officers since taking over . 33:27.459 --> 33:29.609 The previous chairman , other members 33:29.609 --> 33:31.387 of the Joint Chiefs , combatant 33:31.387 --> 33:33.609 commanders , and other commanders . The 33:33.609 --> 33:35.053 rationale for me has been 33:35.053 --> 33:36.720 straightforward . It's nearly 33:36.720 --> 33:38.942 impossible to change a culture with the 33:38.942 --> 33:41.053 same people who helped create or even 33:41.053 --> 33:43.165 benefited from that culture . Even if 33:43.165 --> 33:45.331 that culture was created by a previous 33:45.331 --> 33:47.530 president and previous secretary . My 33:47.530 --> 33:50.040 approach has been simple . When in 33:50.040 --> 33:53.119 doubt , assess the situation , follow 33:53.119 --> 33:55.479 your gut , and if it's the best for the 33:55.479 --> 33:58.849 military , make a change . We 33:58.849 --> 34:01.290 all serve at the pleasure of the 34:01.290 --> 34:04.199 president every single day . 34:06.040 --> 34:08.820 But in many ways , it's not their fault . 34:09.928 --> 34:12.860 It's not your fault . As foolish and 34:12.860 --> 34:15.209 reckless as the woke department was , 34:15.439 --> 34:17.810 those officers were following elected 34:17.810 --> 34:20.949 political leadership . An entire 34:20.949 --> 34:22.949 generation of generals and admirals 34:22.949 --> 34:25.320 were told that they must parrot the 34:25.320 --> 34:28.409 insane fallacy that our diversity is 34:28.409 --> 34:31.539 our strength . Of course , we know our 34:31.539 --> 34:34.000 unity is our strength . They had to put 34:34.000 --> 34:37.830 out dizzying DEI and LGBTQI plus 34:38.320 --> 34:40.889 statements . They were told females and 34:40.889 --> 34:43.608 males are the same thing . Or that 34:43.608 --> 34:46.688 males who think they're females totally 34:46.688 --> 34:50.110 normal . They were told that we need a 34:50.110 --> 34:53.199 green fleet and electric tanks . They 34:53.199 --> 34:55.199 were told to kick out Americans who 34:55.199 --> 34:57.189 refuse an emergency vaccine . They 34:57.189 --> 34:59.110 followed civilian policies set by 34:59.110 --> 35:02.389 foolish and reckless political leaders . 35:04.449 --> 35:08.209 Our job , my job has been to determine 35:08.209 --> 35:10.770 which leaders simply did what they must 35:10.959 --> 35:13.126 to answer the prerogatives of civilian 35:13.126 --> 35:15.070 leadership . And which leaders are 35:15.070 --> 35:17.181 truly invested in the woke department 35:17.181 --> 35:19.237 and therefore incapable of embracing 35:19.237 --> 35:21.649 the war department and executing new 35:21.860 --> 35:24.959 lawful orders . That's it . It's that 35:24.959 --> 35:27.909 simple . So for the past 8 months we've 35:27.909 --> 35:29.965 gotten a good look under the hood of 35:29.965 --> 35:32.550 our officer corps . We've done our best 35:32.550 --> 35:34.828 to thoroughly assess the human terrain . 35:35.169 --> 35:37.520 We've had to make trade-offs and some 35:37.520 --> 35:40.469 difficult decisions . It's more of an 35:40.469 --> 35:43.199 art than a science . We have been and 35:43.199 --> 35:46.409 will continue to be judicious . But 35:46.409 --> 35:50.189 also expeditious . The 35:50.189 --> 35:53.540 new compass heading is clear . Out with 35:53.540 --> 35:55.707 the Shirelles , the McKenzie , and the 35:55.707 --> 35:57.959 Millies . And in with the Stockdale , 35:58.080 --> 36:00.191 the Schwartzkopfs , and the patents . 36:01.750 --> 36:04.110 More leadership changes will be made of 36:04.110 --> 36:06.449 that uncertain . Not because we want to , 36:06.500 --> 36:08.722 but because we must . Once again , this 36:08.722 --> 36:11.389 is life and death . The sooner we have 36:11.389 --> 36:13.445 the right people , the sooner we can 36:13.445 --> 36:15.611 advance the right policies . Personnel 36:15.611 --> 36:18.459 is policy . But I look out at this 36:18.459 --> 36:20.919 group . And I see great Americans . 36:22.070 --> 36:25.030 Leaders who have given decades to our 36:25.030 --> 36:28.070 great republic at great sacrifice to 36:28.070 --> 36:30.719 yourselves . And to your families . 36:32.000 --> 36:34.899 But if the words I'm speaking today are 36:34.899 --> 36:38.399 making your heart sink . Then you 36:38.399 --> 36:40.288 should do the honorable thing and 36:40.288 --> 36:43.649 resign . We would thank you for your 36:43.649 --> 36:47.489 service . But I suspect , I 36:47.489 --> 36:50.860 know . The overwhelming majority of you 36:50.860 --> 36:53.520 feel the opposite . These words make 36:53.520 --> 36:56.790 your hearts full . You love the War 36:56.790 --> 36:59.123 Department because you love what you do , 36:59.123 --> 37:01.850 the profession of arms . You are hereby 37:01.919 --> 37:05.479 liberated . To be an apolitical , hard 37:05.479 --> 37:08.719 charging , no nonsense constitutional 37:08.719 --> 37:10.959 leader that you joined the military to 37:10.959 --> 37:14.889 be . We need you 37:14.889 --> 37:18.659 locked in on the M . Not 37:18.659 --> 37:21.260 the D , the E or the I , not the DEI or 37:21.260 --> 37:24.510 the DIE of dime . By that I mean the 37:24.510 --> 37:28.120 Military of the instruments of national 37:28.120 --> 37:31.399 power . We have entire departments 37:31.399 --> 37:33.343 across the government dedicated to 37:33.343 --> 37:35.455 diplomatic informational and economic 37:35.455 --> 37:37.621 lines of effort . We do the M . Nobody 37:37.621 --> 37:40.199 else does , and our Goos need to master 37:40.199 --> 37:42.421 it in every domain and every scenario . 37:42.421 --> 37:44.143 No more distractions , no more 37:44.143 --> 37:46.719 political ideologies , no more debris . 37:48.010 --> 37:50.121 Now of course we're going to disagree 37:50.121 --> 37:52.629 at times . We would not be Americans if 37:52.629 --> 37:55.629 we didn't . Being a leader in a large 37:55.629 --> 37:57.629 organization like ours means having 37:57.629 --> 38:00.320 frank conversations . And differences 38:00.320 --> 38:02.969 of opinion . You will win some 38:02.969 --> 38:04.929 arguments and you will lose some 38:04.929 --> 38:07.429 arguments . But when civilian leaders 38:07.429 --> 38:10.060 issue lawful orders , we execute . We 38:10.250 --> 38:13.280 are professionals in the profession of 38:13.280 --> 38:17.010 arms . Our entire constitutional system 38:17.540 --> 38:20.500 is predicated upon this understanding . 38:22.080 --> 38:24.191 Now , it seems like a small thing but 38:24.191 --> 38:26.247 it's not . This includes as well the 38:26.247 --> 38:29.510 behavior of our troops online . To that 38:29.510 --> 38:31.790 end , I want to thank and recognize the 38:31.790 --> 38:34.012 services for their new proactive social 38:34.012 --> 38:36.580 media policies . Use them 38:37.629 --> 38:40.070 Anonymous online or keyboard 38:40.070 --> 38:42.419 complaining is not worthy of a warrior , 38:42.790 --> 38:45.149 it's cowardice masquerading as 38:45.149 --> 38:47.899 conscience . Anonymous unit level 38:47.899 --> 38:49.566 social media pages that trash 38:49.566 --> 38:51.621 commanders , demoralize troops , and 38:51.621 --> 38:54.310 undermine unit cohesion must not be 38:54.620 --> 38:58.510 tolerated . Again , 03s , 38:58.639 --> 39:02.560 E6s . 6th , we must 39:02.560 --> 39:06.340 train and we must maintain . Any moment 39:06.340 --> 39:08.562 that we are not training on our mission 39:08.780 --> 39:10.860 or maintaining our equipment is a 39:10.860 --> 39:12.638 moment we are less prepared for 39:12.638 --> 39:14.693 preventing or winning the next war . 39:16.159 --> 39:18.326 That is why today at my direction , we 39:18.326 --> 39:20.959 are drastically reducing the ridiculous 39:20.959 --> 39:23.080 amount of mandatory training that 39:23.080 --> 39:25.136 individuals and units must execute . 39:26.459 --> 39:28.737 We've already ended the most egregious . 39:29.060 --> 39:31.171 Now we're giving you back real time . 39:31.171 --> 39:33.171 Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer 39:33.171 --> 39:35.393 online courses , more time in the motor 39:35.393 --> 39:37.860 pool , and more time on the range . Our 39:37.860 --> 39:40.138 job is to make sure you have the money , 39:40.138 --> 39:42.082 equipment , weapons , and parts to 39:42.082 --> 39:44.249 train and maintain , and then you take 39:44.249 --> 39:46.159 it from there . You all know this 39:46.159 --> 39:48.989 because it's common sense . The tougher 39:49.199 --> 39:51.199 and the higher the standards in our 39:51.199 --> 39:53.760 units , the higher the retention rates 39:53.760 --> 39:56.469 in those units . Warriors want to be 39:56.469 --> 39:58.691 challenged , troops want to be tested . 39:58.691 --> 40:00.636 When you don't train and you don't 40:00.636 --> 40:03.449 maintain , you demoralize . And that's 40:03.449 --> 40:05.449 when our best people decide to take 40:05.449 --> 40:07.560 their talents to the civilian world . 40:08.530 --> 40:10.363 The leaders who created the Woke 40:10.363 --> 40:12.530 department have already driven out too 40:12.530 --> 40:14.586 many hard chargers . We reverse that 40:14.586 --> 40:17.830 trend right now . There is no world in 40:17.830 --> 40:20.052 which high intensity war exists without 40:20.052 --> 40:23.840 pain , agony , and human tragedy . We 40:23.840 --> 40:26.550 are in a dangerous line of work . You 40:26.550 --> 40:28.830 are in a dangerous line of work . 40:31.110 --> 40:34.370 We may lose good people But let no 40:34.370 --> 40:36.610 warrior cry out from the grave if only 40:36.610 --> 40:40.580 I had been properly trained . We will 40:40.580 --> 40:42.860 not use lose war fighters because we 40:42.860 --> 40:45.219 fail to train or equip them or resource 40:45.219 --> 40:48.179 them . Shame on us if we do . Train 40:48.179 --> 40:50.457 like your warriors' lives depend on it . 40:51.100 --> 40:55.080 Because they do . To that point , basic 40:55.080 --> 40:57.191 training is being restored to what it 40:57.191 --> 40:59.510 should be . Scary , tough , and 40:59.510 --> 41:01.729 disciplined . We're empowering drill 41:01.729 --> 41:03.889 sergeants to instill healthy fear in 41:03.889 --> 41:07.409 new recruits . Ensuring that future war 41:07.409 --> 41:10.389 fighters are forged . Yes , they can 41:10.389 --> 41:12.469 shark attack . They can toss bunks , 41:12.550 --> 41:14.939 they can swear , and yes , they can put 41:14.939 --> 41:17.270 their hands on recruits . This does not 41:17.270 --> 41:19.790 mean they can be reckless or violate 41:19.790 --> 41:22.149 the law , but they can use tried and 41:22.149 --> 41:25.030 true methods to motivate new 41:25.030 --> 41:28.189 recruits to make them the warriors they 41:28.189 --> 41:32.030 need to be . Back to basics at Basic 41:32.030 --> 41:35.280 as well . Of course , and you know this 41:35.280 --> 41:37.280 basic training is not where mission 41:37.280 --> 41:39.336 readiness should end . The nature of 41:39.336 --> 41:41.558 the evolving threat environment demands 41:41.558 --> 41:44.070 that everyone . In every job must be 41:44.070 --> 41:47.020 ready to join the fight if needed . A 41:47.020 --> 41:49.750 core credo of the Marine Corps is every 41:49.750 --> 41:52.659 Marine a rifleman . It means that 41:52.659 --> 41:54.830 everyone , regardless of MOS is 41:54.830 --> 41:56.889 proficient enough to engage an enemy 41:56.889 --> 41:59.110 threat at sea in the air or in a 41:59.110 --> 42:02.889 so-called rear area . We need to ensure 42:02.889 --> 42:04.833 that every member of our uniformed 42:04.833 --> 42:07.209 military maintains baseline proficiency 42:07.209 --> 42:10.330 and basic combat skills . Especially 42:10.330 --> 42:12.497 because the next war , like the last , 42:12.719 --> 42:15.120 will likely not have a rear area . 42:17.379 --> 42:20.800 Finally , As President Trump rightly 42:20.800 --> 42:22.719 pointed out when he changed the 42:22.719 --> 42:25.000 department name , the United States has 42:25.000 --> 42:27.439 not won a major theater war since the 42:27.439 --> 42:29.639 name was changed to the Department of 42:29.639 --> 42:31.870 Defense in 1947 . 42:33.330 --> 42:35.360 One conflict stands out in stark 42:35.360 --> 42:38.399 contrast . The Gulf War . 42:39.879 --> 42:41.712 Why ? Well , there's a number of 42:41.712 --> 42:43.879 reasons , but it was a limited mission 42:43.879 --> 42:46.101 with overwhelming force and a clear end 42:46.101 --> 42:48.268 state . But why did we execute and win 42:48.268 --> 42:50.379 the Gulf War the way we did in 1991 ? 42:50.379 --> 42:53.560 There are 2 overwhelming reasons . One 42:53.560 --> 42:55.727 was President Ronald Reagan's military 42:55.727 --> 42:58.004 buildup gave an overwhelming advantage . 42:58.080 --> 43:00.280 And 2 , military and Pentagon 43:00.280 --> 43:03.030 leadership had previous formative 43:03.239 --> 43:06.860 battlefield experiences . The men who 43:06.860 --> 43:09.193 led this department during the Gulf War . 43:09.699 --> 43:12.209 We're mostly combat veterans of the 43:12.209 --> 43:15.600 Vietnam War . They said never again to 43:15.600 --> 43:18.439 mission creep or nebulous end states . 43:19.389 --> 43:21.719 The same holds true today . Our 43:21.719 --> 43:23.719 civilian and military leadership is 43:23.719 --> 43:26.280 chock full of veterans from Iraq and 43:26.280 --> 43:28.919 Afghanistan . Who say never again to 43:28.919 --> 43:31.252 nation building and nebulous end states . 43:32.169 --> 43:34.610 This clear-eyed view all the way in the 43:34.610 --> 43:36.850 White House , combined with President 43:36.850 --> 43:39.649 Trump's military buildup , postures us 43:39.649 --> 43:42.639 for future victories if , and we will , 43:43.250 --> 43:45.810 and when we embrace the War Department . 43:47.100 --> 43:50.719 And we must We are preparing 43:51.050 --> 43:53.217 every day , we have to be prepared for 43:53.217 --> 43:55.383 war , not for defense . We're training 43:55.383 --> 43:57.383 warriors , not defenders . We fight 43:57.383 --> 43:59.820 wars to win , not to defend . Defense 43:59.820 --> 44:02.042 is something you do all the time . It's 44:02.042 --> 44:04.209 inherently reactionary and can lead to 44:04.209 --> 44:06.542 overuse , overreach , and mission creep . 44:06.709 --> 44:09.350 War is something you do sparingly on 44:09.350 --> 44:11.830 our own terms , and with clear aims . 44:12.629 --> 44:15.379 We fight to win . We unleash 44:15.790 --> 44:18.709 overwhelming and punishing violence on 44:18.709 --> 44:21.860 the enemy . We also don't fight with 44:21.860 --> 44:24.649 stupid rules of engagement . We untie 44:24.649 --> 44:26.482 the hands of our war fighters to 44:26.482 --> 44:29.080 intimidate , demoralize , hunt and kill 44:29.080 --> 44:32.229 the enemies of our country . No more 44:32.229 --> 44:34.229 politically correct and overbearing 44:34.229 --> 44:36.790 rules of engagement . Just common sense , 44:37.320 --> 44:39.879 maximum lethality and authority for war 44:39.879 --> 44:43.040 fighters . That's all I ever wanted as 44:43.040 --> 44:46.989 a platoon leader . And it's all my E6 44:46.989 --> 44:48.989 squad leaders ever wanted , back to 44:48.989 --> 44:51.379 that E6 rule . We let our leaders fight 44:51.379 --> 44:53.699 their formations . And then we have 44:53.699 --> 44:57.110 their back . It's very simple . Yet 44:57.110 --> 45:01.030 incredibly powerful . A few months 45:01.030 --> 45:02.919 ago I was at the White House when 45:02.919 --> 45:04.586 President Trump announced his 45:04.586 --> 45:06.530 liberation Day for America's trade 45:06.530 --> 45:09.419 policy . It was a landmark day Well , 45:09.580 --> 45:11.860 today is another liberation day . The 45:11.860 --> 45:13.860 liberation of America's warriors in 45:13.860 --> 45:16.610 name , indeed , and in authorities . 45:18.139 --> 45:20.306 You kill people and break things for a 45:20.306 --> 45:22.989 living . You are not politically 45:22.989 --> 45:25.870 correct . And don't necessarily belong 45:26.610 --> 45:30.000 always in polite society . We are not 45:30.000 --> 45:33.250 an army of one . We are a joint force 45:33.250 --> 45:36.879 of millions of selfless Americans . We 45:36.879 --> 45:40.729 are warriors . We are purpose-built Not 45:40.729 --> 45:43.290 for fair weather , blue skies or calm 45:43.290 --> 45:45.760 seas . We were built to load up in the 45:45.760 --> 45:49.679 back of helicopters , 5 tons or zodiacs 45:49.679 --> 45:52.409 in the dead of night . In fair weather 45:52.409 --> 45:56.239 or foul . To go to dangerous places to 45:56.239 --> 45:58.350 find , to find those who would do our 45:58.350 --> 46:01.969 nation harm . And deliver justice on 46:01.969 --> 46:04.136 behalf of the American people in close 46:04.136 --> 46:06.320 and brutal combat if necessary . 46:08.100 --> 46:09.211 You are different . 46:12.219 --> 46:14.540 We fight not because we hate what's in 46:14.540 --> 46:17.010 front of us . We fight because we love 46:17.010 --> 46:19.739 what's behind us . You see , the Ivy 46:19.739 --> 46:21.683 League faculty loungers will never 46:21.683 --> 46:24.070 understand us , and that's OK . Because 46:24.070 --> 46:26.020 they could never do what you do . 46:27.870 --> 46:30.092 The media will mischaracterize us , and 46:30.092 --> 46:32.479 that's OK , because deep down they know 46:32.479 --> 46:34.646 the reason they can do what they do is 46:34.646 --> 46:37.629 you . In this profession , you feel 46:37.629 --> 46:39.851 comfortable inside the violence so that 46:39.851 --> 46:41.796 our citizens can live peacefully . 46:42.929 --> 46:45.489 Lethality is our calling card , and 46:45.489 --> 46:48.449 victory our only acceptable end state . 46:50.600 --> 46:54.280 In closing A few weeks ago at our 46:54.280 --> 46:56.169 monthly Pentagon Christian prayer 46:56.169 --> 46:58.699 service . I recited a commander's 46:58.699 --> 47:01.979 prayer . It's a simple yet meaningful 47:01.979 --> 47:04.035 prayer for wisdom for commanders and 47:04.035 --> 47:06.257 leaders . I encourage you to look it up 47:06.257 --> 47:08.280 if you've never seen it . But the 47:08.280 --> 47:11.760 prayer , it ends like this . And most 47:11.760 --> 47:15.120 of all , Lord , please keep my 47:15.120 --> 47:19.120 soldiers safe . Lead them , guide them , 47:19.540 --> 47:22.580 protect them , watch over them . And as 47:22.580 --> 47:25.840 you gave all of yourself for me , 47:26.530 --> 47:29.379 help me give all of myself for them . 47:30.590 --> 47:33.389 And amen . I have prayed this prayer 47:33.389 --> 47:35.611 many times since I've had the privilege 47:35.611 --> 47:37.729 of being your secretary . And I will 47:37.729 --> 47:39.840 continue to pray this prayer for each 47:39.840 --> 47:42.699 of you as you command and lead our 47:42.699 --> 47:46.100 nation's finest . Go 47:46.100 --> 47:49.699 forth and do good things , hard 47:49.699 --> 47:53.429 things . President Trump has your back 47:53.429 --> 47:57.300 and so do I . And you'll 47:57.300 --> 48:00.530 hear from him shortly . Move out 48:01.429 --> 48:05.330 And draw fire Because we Are 48:05.330 --> 48:08.780 the War Department . Godspeed . Who , 48:10.219 --> 48:10.520 John .