On September 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, addressing lower‑ranked active‑duty officers and non‑commissioned officers instead of the senior generals who had attended previous speeches. The secretary used the forum to issue blunt directives on military standards, including a reference to “beardos,” and to outline plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the armed forces.
Hegseth declared that the Pentagon would no longer be “the woke department or the weak department.” He said a “simple translation” of his message would result in the exclusion of certain groups, including trans service members, and that the department would focus on “warriors” rather than “weirdos” or “radicals.” The secretary also warned that the U.S. must prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
During the address, Hegseth announced six major initiatives aimed at rapid modernization and autonomous warfare. These include the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command, a 120‑day Project Meridian panel, a large off‑grid military installation, the America’s Corps of Cadets program, the FORTRESS America policy, and a new Office of Religious Affairs.
The Autonomous Warfare Command will become a four‑star combatant command by October 2027, expanding robotic and automated combat systems across all branches. Project Meridian, co‑directed by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, will assess future battlefield technology needs over a 120‑day period.
The new base will be a massive, off‑grid installation built on hundreds of thousands of acres, with a transparent bidding process that favors states offering the most favorable land packages and regulatory environment. America’s Corps of Cadets will establish specialized programs at five partner institutions, granting them priority status for officer commissioning. FORTRESS America will require major installations to develop independent power sources and domestic production of critical materials, while the Office of Religious Affairs will oversee chaplaincy and religious support programs to enhance troop resilience.
