Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces new battlefield test for future generals and admirals
by Mike Glenn · The Washington TimesDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants colonels and Navy captains seeking promotion to one-star rank to undergo a battlefield-style assessment before they can become a general or admiral.
Mr. Hegseth said the new Joint Warfighter Evaluation will measure their ability to “fight, adapt and win” in a combat environment before they are permitted to hold the highest ranks in the military.
“While the backbone of our military is our [non-commissioned officers] and our petty officers, victory depends on the commanders who lead them,” he posted Tuesday on X. “America needs warfighters who can master a chaotic battle space.”
Mr. Hegseth said the evaluation will ensure that commanders are selected because of their “proven competence, not paper credentials.” Last year, he assigned the task of developing the evaluation to Stuart Scheller, the Pentagon’s deputy chief of staff for personnel and readiness.
“The Joint Warfighter Evaluation ensures that our flag is carried by our most lethal and most adaptable leaders,” Mr. Hegseth said.
The assessments will vary by service and range from online simulations to in-person wargames, according to reports.
Mr. Hegseth has prioritized what he calls the “warrior ethos” in the Department of Defense. He compared the Joint Warfighter Evaluation to the Louisiana Maneuvers, the Army’s training exercises during 1940 and 1941 to prepare forces for World War II.
Gen. George C. Marshall, then the Army chief of staff, used the Louisiana Maneuvers to determine whether Army commanders would be able to lead troops in battle. While some generals fell by the wayside, others such as Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley rose to the challenge.
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“The Joint Warfighter Evaluation brings that standard to the modern multi-domain fight,” Mr. Hegseth said. “This evaluation is an objective equalizer. The scenario only cares about operational decisions under pressure.”
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, gave Mr. Hegseth a portrait of Marshall soon after he entered the Pentagon.
“That portrait is a constant reminder of our mission to cut bureaucracy and demand true meritocracy across our senior ranks,” Mr. Hegseth said.
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