By Kavita Mistry 
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of U.S. military officials to an in-person meeting on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) to announce directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness as well as an end to “woke” culture in the military.
Mr. Hegseth said the U.S. military has promoted too many leaders for the wrong reasons based on race, gender quotas and “historic firsts.”
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t hurt anyone’s feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” Mr. Hegseth said.
He said he is loosening disciplinary rules and weakening hazing protections.
Mr. Hegseth said military leaders should do the honourable thing and resign if they don’t like his new approach.
Hegseth and President Donald Trump had abruptly called military leaders from around the world to convene at a base in Virginia without publicly revealing the reason until this morning. (AP) SKS SKS