Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dropped a bold mandate to refocus the military’s chaplain corps on faith and virtue.
Hegseth announced his overhaul of the chaplain corps, which offers religious and spiritual support to service members and their families, targeting what he calls misguided 'new age' concepts, The Hill reported.
Hegseth took to the social platform X to lay out his grievances. He pointed out that chaplains, meant to be ministers, have been reduced to mere therapists under a cloud of political correctness and secular humanism.
Critiquing the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide
In his X post, Hegseth tore into the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide for its glaring omissions. He noted it mentions God just once in over 100 pages while tossing around terms like 'feelings' 11 times and 'playfulness' nine times with no nod to virtue.
His frustration is palpable when he calls out these materials for leaning on trendy, shallow notions. Such guides, in his view, dilute the sacred role of chaplains into something closer to emotional babysitting.
“These types of training materials have no place in the War Department,” Hegseth declared. He’s right to question why spiritual leadership should be drowned out by self-help jargon that feels more suited to a wellness retreat than a battlefield.
Signing a Directive for Immediate Change
Hegseth didn’t stop at words, revealing he would sign a directive to scrap the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide effective immediately. This move signals a hard pivot back to treating chaplains as spiritual guides, not glorified counselors.
“Our chaplains are chaplains, not emotional support officers, and we’re going to treat them as such,” he affirmed. That line cuts through the fog of modern sensitivities, aiming to restore a sense of purpose rooted in faith over fleeting feelings.
The directive aligns with his broader push to sharpen the military’s focus. When the very manuals guiding spiritual fitness sidestep core values, it’s no wonder morale and discipline take a hit.
A Broader Vision for Military Reform
Hegseth’s latest action isn’t his first swing at Pentagon culture. Earlier this year, he called out the presence of overweight troops and leadership, demanding an end to “fat generals and admirals” in the ranks.
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he stated bluntly. His point lands hard: physical readiness reflects mental and moral strength, both non-negotiable in a fighting force.
He doubled down, saying, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.” Allowing standards to slip under the guise of inclusivity or comfort sends a dangerous message to allies and enemies alike.
Restoring Core Values in Service
This overhaul of the chaplain corps fits into Hegseth’s larger mission to strip away layers of bureaucratic fluff. Service members deserve spiritual support that anchors them in timeless principles, not passing fads.
By sidelining guides that prioritize vague self-care over virtue, Hegseth aims to rebuild trust in military institutions. Chaplains should lift spirits through faith, not dilute their calling with trendy psychobabble.
His leadership challenges a culture that too often bends to progressive whims at the expense of readiness. If the military can’t stand firm on its foundational values, what hope is there for standing firm on the battlefield?
