Trump and Hegseth Revive Warrior Ethos, Cut DEI

Projecting power is useful to deter adversaries such as China, Iran, and Russia, as well as to preempt terror plots that are in the planning stages.

President Donald Trump addresses a gathering of senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told hundreds of officers summoned from around the world that the military must fix "decades of decay." Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

The recent gathering of 730 senior enlisted personnel and senior officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, was long overdue. Although one might question the security risk of assembling so many key military personnel in the same place, the messages articulated by War Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump were mostly spot on. It’s likely that security measures were very tight, while the cost for this meeting probably was worth the effort. The president has the authority to fire flag officers who oppose his agenda, as well as to appoint those who align with his vision for the Pentagon.

First, the proposal to change the Department of Defense to the War Department is appropriate because of its prior title in our history. The armed forces are meant to be used for both defensive and offensive purposes. The military branches are not merely defending the republic and our allies, but are necessary to project power across several domains. Projecting power is useful to deter adversaries such as communist China, Iran, and Russia, as well as to preempt terror plots that are in the planning stages.

Next, Hegseth has often advanced the concept of restoring the core mission of the armed forces, which is a warrior ethos. Instead of embroiling the nation in wars that don’t directly affect the national interest, Hegseth believes that if war is thrust upon the United States, the job of the military is to end the war as expeditiously as possible without politics undercutting the mission. Indeed, building a capable, evolving, innovative, and nimble military infrastructure can help to prevent conflicts from being unleashed.

Third, Trump threw out the idea of using U.S. cities as training grounds. It’s not really necessary to train troops within cities because our military forces are already being trained in several rural and urban types of environments at military bases and on federal lands. Moreover, many of our military members currently have battle experience from the global war on terror.

However, some National Guard troops can be federalized via the authority of an executive order to assist local law enforcement and ICE in reducing crime as well as finding unlawful immigrant criminals and terrorists to be deported. The troops can also be deployed to protect federal facilities. One of the duties of the president is to protect the United States from its enemies—both foreign and domestic.

Fourth, most Democrats and a few Republicans oppose Trump regarding his use of U.S. troops to patrol certain cities, as they believe it doesn’t adhere to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. However, in cases in which crime and riots get out of control, sending in the National Guard to restore order is quite appropriate for the commander-in-chief. In a few cases, governors and mayors have approved of this federal assistance.

Fifth, as a military veteran, I strongly approve of the current administration’s actions to terminate divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion constructs from both the military academies and the regular training and deployment iterations of troops at all ranks and ratings. The armed forces cannot afford to admit or promote personnel based on color, gender, prearranged outcomes, or race. Equal mental and physical standards for men and women—based on merit—must be applied for entrance, as well as for promotions up the chain of command. There must be no watering down of physical training standards or knowledge tests.

As an aside, I spend plenty of time on a large university campus in Southern California. The university has an Army ROTC program wherein students work toward a degree in various fields in order to be commissioned as second lieutenants upon graduation. I have noticed that a number of these students are several pounds overweight as they go about their physical exercise regimens. It is difficult for them to keep up with the physical routines. This is inexcusable because the United States needs military members to have sharp situational awareness and be in excellent shape to cope with both military crises and natural disasters.

Sixth, when military members are on the same page regarding fitness and standards, distractions and mediocrity can be minimized and team cohesion is solidified in training as well as out on deployments. Further, if everyone knows what to expect, they can push themselves to excel in their operational specialties. Another benefit of discipline, good order, and equal standards is that recruiting targets can be met. Moreover, retention rates can be improved for service members and many want to make the armed forces a career.

Seventh, Hegseth noted at the meeting that his goal is to root out bullying and hazing in the military, as it can lead to depression and, in some cases, suicide. There are enough stresses and strains in military life, and any unnecessary negative behavior needs to be promptly addressed. All service members should be supported in order to reach their potential and utilize their unique talents to make the U.S. armed forces the best on earth in terms of experience, institutional memory, platforms, and training.

Let’s hope that this recent meeting of the brass will be a constructive turning point for all branches of the military.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.