On Tuesday, September 22nd, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on the social platform X that the Pentagon is undergoing a comprehensive change in the promotion process for generals to reduce bureaucracy and ensure that senior-level officers are promoted based on meritocracy.
In a video message, Hegseth officially introduced a new process called “Joint Warfighter Evaluation,” which aims to reduce bureaucracy and ensure that the capabilities of these high-ranking officers are aligned with their military ranks. Starting this year, all colonels in the Army, Navy, and Air Force who are being considered for promotion to brigadier general must undergo this assessment.
Hegseth emphasized that while the foundation of the military lies with the vast number of junior officers and non-commissioned officers, it is the commanders leading them that are crucial to achieving victory. He stated that the U.S. needs combat talents who can navigate complex and chaotic battlefields.
Citing the example of General George Marshall’s promotion of the “Louisiana Maneuvers” before World War II, Hegseth highlighted the importance of large-scale combat exercises as crucial preparations before entering a major conflict.
He mentioned that this rigorous evaluation process had produced outstanding military leaders such as Dwight Eisenhower, Chester Nimitz, and Omar Bradley, who played pivotal roles in major military campaigns during and after World War II.
Hegseth expressed that the “Joint Warfighter Evaluation” will modernize the standard set by the past and solely test the decision-making abilities of generals in simulated high-pressure environments, which provide an objective measure of capability.
Reflecting on a year ago, Hegseth assigned Stuart Scheller, the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to review and update the promotion process that had been in place for years.
Hegseth bluntly stated that military units should be led by capable commanders rather than generals who are promoted solely based on their credentials on paper. This evaluation process aims to ensure that the U.S. military is commanded by the most elite and adaptable leaders.
Furthermore, he emphasized his admiration for the “warrior spirit,” aiming to build a highly physically fit and combat-ready force. He also criticized the past use of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) standards in personnel promotions.
During a speech to senior officers in Virginia last year, Hegseth pointed out that promoting individuals based on lower standards or inherent characteristics instead of actual merit is detrimental to the leadership culture within the military.
Scheller later clarified to Fox News Digital that the new assessment process does not directly replace the existing promotion procedures but serves as a pivotal determinant beyond officers’ performance evaluations and service records.