"Hegseth at the War College" Topic

Legion possibly this is what he meant to post, based on the title. From government website.

Subject: Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Army War College (As Delivered) > U.S. Department of Defense > Speech


link

Good closer to the speech, too:

We are laser focused on our mission of warfighting. We are color blind, and we are merit based. We're restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence, end, full stop. Enemy aggression will be met swiftly and harshly. We're beginning a new golden age of America and a golden age of national defense.

We have a bumper crop of new recruits, new planes, new missile defense systems on the way, allies increasing their defense spending and adversaries on their heels. Today, on this beautiful day, we have a brand-new class soon to be Army War College students about to graduate. You, all of you, are the future of our military.

You will lead these new recruits, eager, optimistic, young, ready and soon to be trained. They will look to you. You will lead the brigades, the ships, the groups; you will execute our tactical, operational and strategic objectives all around the globe. You will set the standard. We're counting on you, and I know that you will deliver at each and every step with distinction.

God bless you. God speed to all of our warriors and thank you for having me today.

OVI +1

SBm +1

Pete +1

Bumper crop of new recruits? To my knowledge every branch has fallen short of recruiting goals for the last several years, or at best, just met their goals. I've been out for 6 months now, so maybe there is a sudden resurgence of patriotism I'm not aware of, but a bumper crop is a fantasy at best.

Nope, recruiting levels have shot up. All branches.

Army only:

The Army is poised to easily hit its recruiting target this year as the service has made enormous gains in filling the ranks ahead of its traditional summer rush of new enlistments.

"As of last week, the Army had enlisted 51,837 recruits, or 85% of its 61,000 target for fiscal 2025, according service data provided to Military.com. A significant portion of that total -- roughly 14,000 -- comes from the service's delayed-entry program, or DEP, which is composed of recruits who signed up last year but are only now shipping out to basic training. The Army has the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, to hit its recruiting quota.

Despite the DEP, the numbers still represent an upswing compared to last year. At this point in 2024, the Army had reached just 63% of its goal, pulling in 34,512 recruits -- including only 5,000 from the DEP. The surge in delayed entries this year is largely attributed to the Army's aggressive recruiting pace in 2024, which outstripped available training capacity."

OVI +1

Yes all branches are getting many more new recruits. Plus many are not going to ETS or retire now. As there is new leadership in the WH and Pentagon. They know they will not be led by the 2d & 3d String.

LEO agencies of all types are getting many recruits too. They like the new leadership in the WH, DHS, FBI, CBP, etc.

As I keep saying, many saw that the Biden Admin, et al was not providing good leadership, their priorities were in the wrong place, etc., etc. No matter how much the DNC and most in the media covered up the leadership deficit starting at the very top with Biden.

Don't you just hate when reality interferes with the narrative?

Seems to be SOP for much of the media and many in DC …

Reality is not always cut and dried. I think it is wrong to insinuate that the military was somehow not up to par re: executing missions around the globe and now he can fix it. I would not mention this around crew members of the Carney, or the Eisenhower.

Woke training was made a big deal for political gain, IMO. It was there and seemed pretty ridiculous. But no one here or elsewhere proved anything about reduced fighting capabilities.

The reality was the documented impact of the of the strong economy and job market on recruiting. Studies of recruitment target populations showed woke was not an issue for most. Hesgeth is bragging about fixing something that was not nearly as broken as he claims, just because it fits in his wheelhouse. He is a good cheerleader.

🙂

Tort you say that nothing proved that DEI policies were a big issue, even though many links were posted on TMP saying that they were. Also some of us posting about first hand contacts telling us they were an issue.

But than you write:

"Studies of recruitment target populations showed woke was not an issue for most. "

Well I guess it depends on which studies one wants to believe. 😉🙂

They are the Army's figures from their polling and outreach. I posted them here a couple of times, but they did not fit the anecdotes. By the end of 2023, they were using them to change recruiting tactics. You're welcome Pete! But it does not matter now, woke is gone and we have recruits.

God forbid we should ever say something went right before three months ago! 😉. I am sincere in saying your Pete has a role to play here, as in his speech.

Here's a Reuters article about command issues under Hegseth. You may not like it. But I find Reuters to be mostly okay.

link

Trump's ban on transgender soldiers affects only about 1/2 of 1% of military personnel. I thought this was a much bigger issue. Sounds like most of the military will barely notice.

"Here's a Reuters article about command issues under Hegseth. You may not like it. But I find Reuters to be mostly okay."

🤔
My "unnamed" and "undisclosed" sources, say their "unnamed" and "undisclosed"……..are wrong. 😂

"Trump's ban on transgender soldiers affects only about 1/2 of 1% of military personnel. I thought this was a much bigger issue. Sounds like most of the military will barely notice."

The Supreme Court ok'ed it today, is that why you post it?

Should TG's be allowed in?
As their true gender, or their imagined gender?
Should the taxpayers pick up the tab for their surgery, if they decide they want to change genders during service?
At certain times after surgery, TG's require special drugs. If we are in combat will we have to have stocks of those drugs to keep them on the front lines.
Should the military be changed to accommodate the needs of, as you said, 1/2 to 1%?

Seems to me, just easier to not allow in 1/2 to 1% of the military. Probably cheaper too. IMHO.

I personally believe you are as you were born. I don't care what other people do in private. I don't know what impact it has on the military. It is certainly not right in athletics and it may cause similar inequities elsewhere.

I remarked because of the SC decision, mainly because it was a surprisingly small number of people for the amount of attention it gets. I am okay with Trump's take on this.

I believe if you have type 1 diabetes you cannot enter the military, because they cannot guarantee you insulin. The concept is the same.

"it was a surprisingly small number of people for the amount of attention it gets"

Not sure why the gay and lesbian community tied themselves to the TG's. But that is why all the attention.

OVI +1

"unnamed" and "undisclosed" sources

That says in all …

I believe if you have type 1 diabetes you cannot enter the military, because they cannot guarantee you insulin. The concept is the same.

That is the way I remember it …

"it was a surprisingly small number of people for the amount of attention it gets"

That is SOP with the Dems and much of the media …

Not sure why the gay and lesbian community tied themselves to the TG's. But that is why all the attention.

Again that is SOP for the Dems and media …

I personally believe you are as you were born. I don't care what other people do in private.

Most in the USA believe. Until those lifestyles get pushed down their throats. E.g. Biden and his minions had the LGBTQ+ flag flying in front of the WH. Between to US flags. Which AFAIK that is against the Regs for posting the colors and other flags.

I don't know what impact it has on the military.

"Amazingly" many may not like serving alongside of LGBTs. Again most don't care. But yes the military is not a democracy. "Don't ask … don't tell" was in effect when I was in the Army. Generally, it worked pretty well. But sometimes they out themselves or got outed. And they were discharged.

It is certainly not right in athletics and it may cause similar inequities elsewhere.

That is just common sense … but some Dems and activists don't see it that way.