Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing to deliver a "State of the Force" address later this month and has requested that troops meeting specific "impeccable grooming standards" be present in the audience, The Wall Street Journal reported. Hegseth, who has previously criticized service members for their appearance, including "fat generals" and those with beards, sent an email to U.S. Army commanders asking for their selections of service members who adhere to certain "physical standards."
The criteria for selection included troops who have passed the Army's waist-to-height ratio and its fitness test, as well as those who meet its "impeccable grooming and uniform standards (no exception)." The request also sought candidates who have been "consistently rated as top performers within their formations" and who demonstrate "integrity, discipline and selfless service."
Hegseth, scheduled to give the speech on September 30, also indicated that selected individuals would have an opportunity to join him for a workout. A Pentagon official declined to comment when reached by The Wall Street Journal, and the Pentagon also did not provide comment to HuffPost.
In July, officials familiar with Hegseth's remarks told CBS News that the defense secretary had expressed frustration over the appearance of some troops, noting that his calls for stricter enforcement of appearance standards had not been fully embraced by Pentagon leadership. At that time, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that Secretary Hegseth holds "the highest expectations for our service members to uphold the professional standards of appearance, fitness, and discipline that define our warfighting force" and emphasizes "consistent enforcement of hair, weight, and grooming standards across all ranks."