Quoted in "New details emerge on Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top brass/The defense secretary is expected to lecture about the 'warrior ethos' for less than an hour, according to multiple people familiar with the event. But top generals are bracing for possible firings or demotions" (WaPo).
Some Pentagon officials questioned the wisdom of launching a relatively large gathering on short notice to hear Hegseth speak for a matter of minutes, and bristled at the idea that long-serving military leaders — a segment of whom spent years in combat earlier in their careers — needed instruction on how to fight.
“They don’t need a talk from Secretary Hegseth on the warrior ethos,” a defense official said....
“Warrior ethos” across the services can have different meanings, but in general it refers to professional dedication to fighting and winning wars. It is a regular focus of Hegseth, a former National Guard infantry officer, who has also rhetorically championed a “return to lethality.”...
The in-person nature of the meeting has generated frustration as hundreds of senior officers and their staff prepare to fly in on either commercial or military aircraft, and book lodging and transportation to be in the audience for Hegseth’s remarks early Tuesday....
Frustration at the difficulty of travel arrangements — does that sound like the warrior ethos? I don't know. I'm not a general, but I assume that part of war-fighting is transporting members of the military effectively across the face of the earth. And not complaining about it, just getting it done.
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Hegseth is probably paying attention to the reactions. Not only is this person complaining about travel not demonstrating a warrior ethos, neither is the person insisting that they don’t need a lecture on it. Both should be on the dismissal list.
Who wouldn’t complain about bs like this. They will go cause they have to go. Doesn’t mean they have to like it.
My guess is the idea is to find out which of them are enthusiastic at the notion that the new enemy is not some foreign power but the American people.
They'd save a lot of time and money if they did the meeting using Signal.
Perhaps he's putting any remaining Vindmans on notice.
Nice concluding paragraph, Hostess! Bravo.
The way Althouse finished… yeah, that. The whiners should just bring their intent to resign letters.
Making difficult travel arrangements is just like storming Omaha beach. Thoughts and prayers to the flag officers who are risking their lives to attend a meeting. I am literally shaking…
Our pastor was a career Marine officer. He said there are two types of high level officers: warrior officers and armchair officers. Hegseth is looking to separate the wheat from the chaff. Bravo.
An incredible tactic! Ask your first line to a meeting, then relieve anyone that complains about it. Can’t have leaders that can’t handle a simple assignment such as this.
It makes it easier to can the ones we need to get rid of. Just look for the eyerolls…
’They don’t need a talk from Secretary Hegseth on the warrior ethos…’
Maybe they do or maybe they don’t, but some of them certainly need a refresher course on how to read an org chart.
I see the commentariat gets the strategy. Why is it so hard for everyone else?
I know, they must mutter the Trump is bad prayer, in all of its iterations…
Warriors have to be selfless. Leaders of warriors even more so.
Honestly, how fun is this administration?
“….now, let me pass you over to Laura Loomer who will explain why you are here today…” ~ Pete Hegseth
Gathering all 838 generals and admirals in one place, what could possibly go wrong with that? First they’ll get the warrior ethos lecture, then they’ll have to do jumping jacks and pushups.
I would imagine the skillset developed sitting through DEI training will be very helpful for the WEL, but the calisthenics may be a little rough for many.
I predict Trump will make an appearance for the WEL training, might do the jumping jacks, but won’t do the pushups.
I wonder how many of those generals can bend over and touch their toes or do ten pushups or five pull ups. If they can't do that they should be fired on the spot.
And why do we need 800 plus generals and admirals during peacetime? What exactly are they all doing.
And why do we need 800 plus generals and admirals during peacetime?
…look to your left look to your right…you’re fired!
There is a mentality in large organizations that the new culture probably won’t make it to you before the guy at the top is replaced. And if it does, it will take so long to get there you’ll be retired before it does.
Hegseth understands this and wants to bring the new culture to them, wherever in the world they are currently stationed.
I’d bet there are going to be push ups and a nice long run.
Which is going to do wonders for junior officer and enlisted morale.
Everyone, thank you for your support, your calm demeanor, be prepared, return to your bases with peaceful purpose. Semper Fidelis
In their defense, navigating the online Defense Travel System is on par with planning the D-Day landings.
DTS is the Priceline of official military travel and 500 times more complicated.
I will not pretend that I get what is going on here. There are theories, lots of them. The last place I would look for for a good explanation, though, is the partisan CIA mouthpiece, the WaPo.
Hegseth seems so desperate to show he is in charge.
Like a guy with short man syndrome, his inept attempts to wield power only expose his desperation.
I am sure heads will roll, but those enlisted will see truth.
Womder how much money will be wasted just for him to stand there for 20 minutes of pointless bravado. Remember 6 months ago when every dollar saved by DOGE was a big deal?
Hegseth doesnt.
Guessing this is a modern version of General George C. Marshall's 1939 "Plucking Board," with elements of a "Beno Meeting." As in, there will Be No ... The ellipsis will probably be about politics in the service, DEI, etc. Definitely needs to be done, though the approach chosen seems eccentric.
The 47 Admin is taking control of several government departments that not only have burrowed bureaucrats, but also a tradition where appointed proconsuls think they don't have to work for their Departmental Secretary, or even for the President.
Appointed/confirmed ambassadors. Appointed/confirmed US Attorneys. And flag officers, who combine the worst aspects of career bureaucrats and appointees.
In all those cases, there is the appointee's tendency to think their appointment letter and Congressional Record vote totals are a license to do whatever they think best, head of their department be damned.
This tendency is bad enough in a Dem or RINO government, where it may just reflect a measuring contest of who's a closer friend to the POTUS.
It's potentially fatal under Trump, where he hasn't yet rooted out all the people who think they're saving America from his worst impulses. Which are actually his best impulses, that America voted for.
So as I said in the cafe thread, Hegseth may just want to remind these people that they work for him, they're not there to protect their men from him, and he's got Article 88 to back him up. Geez, we canonized Marshall for doing the same right before the war.
He's no doubt had similar conversations with his sergeants as an officer. CC, JSM
Seriously. The warrior follows orders. And booking a flight is not typically considered an unreasonable and difficult mission. I suspect, as in any corporate setting, the 'new' boss wants to look his 'employees' in the eyes, and let them hear from him- the boss- what he expects of them, and what the overall environment is going to be moving forward.
I did this in my working life. I would expect nothing less from our Secretary of Defense. As opposed to sitting in an office counting skin color or gender numbers on our roles.
I also suspect that most of these people are either (a) very into a new leadership and ethos for our military, or (b) in need of a new career path.
if YOU, as a senior officer, CAN'T get up and go across the world in a VERY short period of time; because of a instruction to do so..
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF THERE IS A WAR?
i realize that their golf games, hormone therapies, etc. will have to be rescheduled.. but HEY!
My cousin retired as a Major in the Marines, after serving for 20 years. He made it clear that to rise above that rank required political skill more than anything else.
The Generals complaining about travel arrangements are politicians. When we get someone highly competent (e.g., Norman Schwartzkopf) in command, it is probably due to good luck.
If Hegseth has any balls, he will fire 25% of all Generals every year in order to bring in new thinking and hopefully separate the politicians from the fighting men and women.
Thanks for the link, for the topic, and mostly your continued service, Althouse, but...
...I will pass on this one and wait till after the event.
I do not normally do "News of the Future"
If the troops ever stop rousing it signifies a serious morale problem.
I would think this holds true of admirals as well
John Henry
Althouse said..."Frustration at the difficulty of travel arrangements — does that sound like the warrior ethos? I don't know. I'm not a general, ..."
You hit the nail on the head and WaPo was oblivious to what they had said.
Didn't mean to rhyme.
General Halftrack was last seen in Beetle Bailey ten days ago, going to play golf. Clearly he's on a flight to Washington.
It's easier for a politician to book a flight on a military jaunt than a general ordered. Are they worried about revisiting the incident over the Potomac, a do or DEI situation?
a segment of whom spent years in combat earlier in their careers
"A segment."
How large a segment, WaPo?
Who are these brave "defense officials" who "bristle" to WaPo reporters?
Oh, just shut up, get off your ass, and go to the meeting.
there are probably a few generals who proved themselves in the prime of their lives, but many who failed, like twitter general donahue who is now posted to nato, whose performance at HKIA was abyssmal
with darth austin, they had to do very little,
meanwhile we have discovered with nikie sherill, the honor code apparently didn't matter to the class of '94, maybe to subsequent classes,
Time to cull the herd.
jim5301 said...
...... My guess is the idea is to find out which of them are enthusiastic at the notion that the new enemy is not some foreign power but the American people.
------------------------------
According to our last President, the real enemy is Mega MAGA.
There's not enough water pressure in my shower, and the water isn't even hot.
“Gathering all 838 generals and admirals in one place, what could possibly go wrong with that?”
Good point. Could be a prized target of one or more of the numerous and sundry murderous, leftwing, sexually confused, dooshbag posses roaming the countryside.
My old neighbor, retired Colonel, West Point, told me that to rise to the rank of general has very little to do with military achievement or battle skills.
So, my first assumption with out-of-the-ordinary actions by any Trump administration official, is that it probably isn't all that out-of-the-ordinary. Instead, it's another verse in a very long shanty, whose refrain is a hysterical chorus of 'OhMiGod How Dare He !!'
I hope he fires any general he doesn't trust implicitly, for any reason whatsoever. It's the military, not a country club membership. I think, after a few months of analysis, this administration has figured out that there's too much rot to eradicate with one fell swoop, so it must be driven underground to halt its insidious advance within the institution, then rooted out one by one. Last time, the message continued its broadcast in stealth mode and continued to do damage. They're being a bit more ruthless this time, and more comfortable using the power that is already granted them.
the infection even was present at the lower ranks, look at colonel naigle that was certainly dangling a coup in certain monographs, meanwhile we still have adversaries in this hemisphere and others,
I'm hoping he does a Saddam Hussein style purge, where the traitors are named, and led out the back to be shot (Metaphorically, of course).
Then, afterwards, Hegseth goes full R Lee Ermey, and asks the officers to "show me your war face!"
They were not referred to as "Perfumed Princes" for no reason.
anton Myrer did have the gist of it,
Thinking as America's enemies do, i think that this meeting place would be a good time & place to launch some kind of terror/suicide attack to disrupt and kill a big piece of the US military's leadership, (ie "a leadership Pearl Harbor"), leaving the entire military rudderless, at least for a time. Just saying.
"Marshall forced out or sidelined over 500 senior officers in 1940–1941 to ensure merit-based leadership, paving the way for figures like Eisenhower and Bradley." -- Grok
IIRC, he also removed an officer who asked for an extra day to move. When Marshall told you to do something, he required that you to do it.
well you could use signal, but we know what happened then,
Fruit Salad Milley
Plannin’ somethin’ silly
He’d give the game away to teh Commies
Cuz the tub o’ lard had some issues with his mommy
h/t Tony Joe White
Are these officers wondering if there will be bed making inspection? With bouncing coins!!
Here we have a military organization that has, within its ranks, transgenders and officers engaging in 'furry' lifestyles, openly. We have officers like Milley, on the Joint Cheifs, openly saying they would contact the enemy to inform them in advance of orders from the Cheif Executive, as if this was an important safety fail-safe of some kind, that should be endorsed. Then we have the Vindman twins. And all of this endorsed, implicitly, by the previous administration, as they did their best to provoke and then underwrite an armed conflict in Eastern Europe. How can provoking a conflict on such a scale, while undermining your military readiness, be anything less than a declaration of intent to bring harm to your own country? It exceeds the bounds of nuance.
The guys who died in the Afghanistan debacle due to the FAILURE up the chain to allow a response when the terrorist was IDed was pre-Hegseth. The narco terrorism boats blown to hell was the Hegseth model. I like the new model.
officers like Milley, on the Joint Cheifs, openly saying they would contact the enemy to inform them in advance of orders from the Cheif Executive..
don't forget politicians
like Shift Schift who was sleeping with a Chinese Spy
or Nancy Pelosi who had a Chinese Spy as her driver.
Once you realize that the Chinese OWN the democrat party;
it ALL makes much more sense
Professora said ... I'm not general!!
I only marshall students in class!
"I am sure heads will roll, but those enlisted will see truth."
I agree. The "enlisted will see truth", and applaud.
Has anyone noticed pentagon yard sale on medals and 🎀 ribbon
"Marshall forced out or sidelined over 500 senior officers in 1940–1941 to ensure merit-based leadership, paving the way for figures like Eisenhower and Bradley." -- Grok
And Stalin purged a ton of high ranking officers for political purposes.
Marshall's plan worked out better. Hegseth is following the Marshall path.
"...or Nancy Pelosi who had a Chinese Spy as her driver." Close. That was Feinstein. Same effect.
"Stalin purged a ton of high ranking officers for political purposes."
Which is why Russian military success came at the cost of lives and not materiel. He murdered the best he had.
The ones complaining the most are the ones to whom he’s talking. He’s reinforcing who is in charge.
1st - since the 60s when I was in AF every General who commands an AF base has his own airplane. I doubt there are many in Navy or Army who lack that benefit. Gas it up and get going. I rode one to golf tourney., also on board men going to a Chess tourney on the same base - from CA to GA. 2nd One story said they need all their aides - does that sound like something Patton would do?
I'm not suggesting such draconian measures, but the term "..to encourage the others..." has quite a history to it. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Admiral-John-Byng/
The French victory had another effect, perhaps of greater significance to mankind. In celebration of their victory a new sauce was made by the chefs of Paris. Mayonnaise, after Port Mahon, the chief city of Minorca.
If this really is a cultural change meeting, it will benefit not so much from the speech but the conversations over drinks after. Those who have been frustrated will find others and now they know they can implement changes with protection from the top for the "paper officers" in between.
"Paper officers" is a term I use about the reality that those good in the office politics advance better in peacetime to the detriment of the impolitic warriors who excel in the face of the enemy. Something W. E. B. Griffin explored in his 'The Brotherhood of War' series of novels. We saw this quietly in the early days of the Second Gulf War as commanders were replaced when they proved less effective in the field than they did in the barracks.
This contrast is shown in history by Gen McClellen, who was a great organizer being replaced by Gen Grant, who was more aggressive.
"Now, Grant didn't give a damn about organization, but neither was he afflicted with the [indecision] virus." --CINCPAC (Henry Fonda), 'In Harms Way'
Well, he'll see who's in shape. I expect there's going to be some warrior exercises of various kinds. Pushups. Staying up late and staying sharp. Questions asked without aides to give the answers. What about drones? What kinds of training do you do? A comparison at one moment in time of the members of a group to each other. Why not?
My primary message to the assembled brass would be this- "If we end up fighting a war against Russia in Ukraine, 95% of the people in this room will be sent to the front lines with a rifle to man a trench."
I wish the same could be done with all the other arm-chair warriors D.C. and elsewhere.
I think Billie Bob asks the key question: Do we really need 800 General officers in the current force structure?
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