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BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts) Thu Sep 4, 2025, 07:25 PM Sep 4

Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs

Source: USA Today

Updated Sept. 4, 2025, 12:24 p.m. ET

The Army announced the cancellation of its flagship officer selection program Sept. 2 after officials in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office directed its review.

The Army's Command Assessment Program, an NFL Combine-style program known as CAP, that put prospective battalion and brigade commanders through a series of physical and mental tests, was cancelled "effective immediately," Army spokesperson Maj. Travis Shaw confirmed.

Hegseth, in a Sept. 3 post on X, hailed the program's demise, saying, "Good riddance."

Grueling program started in Trump's first term

CAP was a trial for officers seeking to command battalions and brigades, demanding roles that make or break an officer's career. The cancellation comes as part of a Pentagon review of officer personnel processes ranging from evaluations to promotions and command selection, among other career milestones.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/04/hegseth-kills-army-nfl-style-officer-program/85954364007/

8 replies

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Highlight:

Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Sep 4 OP

When did this thing they're canceling start in the first place? Eliot Rosewater Sep 4 #1

Started under 45's first term! BumRushDaShow Sep 4 #2

I guess they want to promote people that are too fat to get out of their chair like Trump Eliot Rosewater Sep 4 #3

Hegseth, understandably, has no use for people of outstanding qualities. mpcamb Sep 4 #4

Based on his Military Record rlexx Sep 4 #5

They want White MAGA IbogaProject Sep 4 #6

Pushups AverageOldGuy Sep 4 #7

I thought you were an average old guy. maxsolomon Sep 5 #8

Eliot Rosewater

(34,073 posts)

1. When did this thing they're canceling start in the first place?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 07:40 PM

Sep 4

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

2. Started under 45's first term!

Reply to Eliot Rosewater (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 08:05 PM

Sep 4

Grueling program started in Trump's first term

Eliot Rosewater

(34,073 posts)

3. I guess they want to promote people that are too fat to get out of their chair like Trump

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #2)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 08:41 PM

Sep 4

mpcamb

(3,136 posts)

4. Hegseth, understandably, has no use for people of outstanding qualities.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 08:57 PM

Sep 4

rlexx

(67 posts)

5. Based on his Military Record

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 09:24 PM

Sep 4

And not making LT COL…. He was probably rejected for the program

IbogaProject

(4,974 posts)

6. They want White MAGA

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 11:24 PM

Sep 4

And don't want anything to interfere with that goal.

AverageOldGuy

(2,954 posts)

7. Pushups

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2025, 11:58 PM

Sep 4

Hegseth likes to tell people he knocks out 50 pushups each morning.

I'm 80. I knock out 100 HONEST pushups twice a day -- around 0600 and around 2100.

My son -- a former Army Special Forces trooper with his left arm and shoulder missing -- does 100 ONE-ARM PUSHUPS twice a day with me.

Hegseth ditched this program because he knows he could not hack it.

maxsolomon

(37,356 posts)

8. I thought you were an average old guy.

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Reply #7)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:55 PM

Sep 5

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