Hegseth details new initiatives in partisan address to troops
He said the changes will scale autonomous warfare, expand cadet programs at five universities and make spirituality a core element of combat effectiveness.
- On Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, announcing six initiatives including the Autonomous Warfare Command and cadet corps at five universities.
- Shifting from his previous address to hundreds of generals and admirals, Hegseth spoke to lower-ranked active-duty officers and non-commissioned officers, aiming to shift the Defense Department toward rapid modernization and autonomous warfare.
- Initiatives include Project Meridian, a 120-day panel for military technology, and partnerships with Elon Musk to accelerate fielding of advanced combat systems. Hegseth also promised a "transparent" bidding process for a new "gold standard" military facility, the first built in 40 years.
- The Autonomous Warfare Command will scale robotic and automated combat systems across all branches, building on recent drone deployments in the Middle East. This effort aligns with the Trump administration's broader push to rename the Defense Department the Department of War.
- Future operations center on the Autonomous Warfare Command, set to operate as a four-star combatant command by October 2027. Hegseth declared, "We are no longer the woke department or the weak department," marking a permanent overhaul.
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7 Articles
7 takeaways from Hegseth’s address to officers: Warfare’s future, faith and a new base
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans for a new autonomous warfare command and asked governors to bid for a massive new military base, among other initiatives revealed in his State of the Force address Wednesday.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Elon Musk, ‘beardos’ and Fort Trump? Inside Hegseth’s ‘State of the Force’ address
Addressing junior personnel at Quantico, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled six major initiatives to overhaul military standards
Hegseth taps Musk, Luckey, Gingrich to study future of war for US military
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth touted a new initiative, Project Meridian, in which tech bros Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey, as well as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, will co-direct a panel studying the future of warfare.
Hegseth announces 6 initiatives to shape the future of the U.S. War Dept. in 'State of the Force' address
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laid out his vision for combat readiness, physical standards and a better streamlined leadership structure in the United States military during his "State of the Force" address, an annual speech to establish strategic priorities, standards and reforms for the armed forces.
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