The Trump administration is going against the grain, and the US Secretary of War has issued ten "war orders" that completely undermine and destroy the foundation of the US military!

In Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, USA, a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle took place:

More than 800 senior US military officers—four-star generals, theater commanders, and special forces leaders—were urgently recalled from over 300 frontline bases around the world to attend a "ideological rectification" conference led by retired Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hegseth, a former Fox News host. One of the themes of this meeting was "physical fitness equals loyalty."

This man, who held only the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, served for just four years, and had no combat experience, announced on stage: "The era of considering feelings is over."

He proposed ten "war orders," the first of which was: all combat positions must adhere to a unified "70% male physical fitness standard," regardless of age or rank, from new recruits to four-star generals, all equally treated.

What shocked even more was his demand to publicly release the physical test results of generals every quarter, with "unqualified individuals automatically demoted or retired."

On the surface, this is a reform to "strengthen combat power"; in reality, it is a political purge under the guise of physical fitness.

The average age of current active-duty generals (three-star major generals and four-star generals) is 60, with many having experienced battlefield injuries, undergone joint replacements, or received heart stent surgeries. If the "Marine Corps突击队员 (assault) standard" is strictly enforced, it is estimated that 30%-40% of the generals will be "red-lighted" in the first assessment.

Even more absurdly, Trump directly named the Army Deputy Chief of Staff: "If you yourself can't run two miles, then step down from your position." He also announced that starting in 2026, all generals must take quarterly tests alongside soldiers, with their scores published online.

This means that a commander with outstanding achievements may lose his rank due to old knee injuries, while a young colonel with excellent physical fitness but no command experience could quickly rise through the ranks.

This is exactly what Trump truly wants: using "physical fitness compliance" as an excuse to eliminate "disloyal" generals promoted during the Biden era, replacing them with new personnel who are firm in MAGA ideology and physically strong. The so-called "combat power reform" is merely a cover for a "personnel change campaign."

If physical fitness tests are a tool for purging the upper echelons, then policies for new recruits fully reveal Hegseth's brutal military logic.

He introduced two shocking policies:

1. Relaxing discipline regulations and weakening protection against bullying;

2. Authorizing instructors to "physically intervene" during basic training, instilling a "healthy fear" in recruits.

This means that corporal punishment, humiliation, and hierarchical oppression, once strictly prohibited, are now officially redefined as "necessary measures to forge warriors." This is like bringing the anti-war film Full Metal Jacket into reality.

Over the past few decades, the US military gradually curbed the culture of abuse that was prevalent during the Vietnam War through institutional reforms, establishing a professional and modern image. Now, this system is seen as a symbol of "weakness."

Hegseth ordered the abolition of anonymous reporting, restricted repeated complaints, and canceled mechanisms protecting against bullying—effectively telling soldiers: if you are beaten, don't expect to complain.

This reminds people of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket: a new recruit goes mad and commits suicide under the mental torment of an instructor. Now, this film is no longer an anti-war allegory, but a training manual for the Pentagon.

From a "healthy sense of fear" to "bullying legalized," this is Hegseth's complete regression.

However, history has already shown that obedience built through bullying is fragile. During the Vietnam War, the US military gave soldiers stimulants to overcome fear, resulting in a large number of psychological trauma and violent incidents after returning home. South Korean military has long had serious issues of bullying by senior soldiers, leading to multiple cases of new recruits taking up arms for revenge and collective mutinies.

Can a group accustomed to bullying the weak perform well in life-or-death situations on the battlefield? History has already given the answer—no. Instead, it would lead to more internal murders, desertions, and psychological breakdowns.

Trying to boost combat effectiveness through internal oppression is like drinking poison to quench thirst. When basic training camps become arenas where violence is legally sanctioned, we know: this is not rebuilding the military, but destroying it.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1844835967437835/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.