Hegseth requests only ‘impeccably groomed’ soldiers attend his speech

Politics
18 Sep 2026 • 4:01 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Hegseth requests only ‘impeccably groomed’ soldiers attend his speech

  • An email from the Pentagon invited Army commanders to nominate top-performing soldiers to appear alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at his State of the Force address on September 30, The Wall Street Journal reported.
  • Nominated soldiers must meet strict physical fitness, waist-to-height ratio, and grooming standards without exception and will participate in a workout with Hegseth.
  • A Pentagon spokesperson stated that Hegseth expects service members to adhere strictly to professional standards of appearance, fitness, and discipline across all ranks.
  • The initiative aligns with Hegseth's established history of enforcing rigid physical and grooming criteria, including widespread bans on beards and long hair.
  • The report comes as Representative Thomas Massie introduced a resolution to impeach Hegseth, alleging abuse of power and high crimes.

IN FULL

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved