New details emerge on Hegseth's unusual mass gathering of top brass [View all]

Source: Washington Post

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of generals to travel on short notice from around the world to hear him make a short speech on military standards and the “warrior ethos,” multiple people familiar with the event told The Washington Post.

Hegseth’s orders, which were sent earlier this week to senior generals and admirals worldwide, require anyone in a command position with the rank of one-star general or rear admiral and above, as well as their senior enlisted leaders, to be at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.

Exceptions will be granted on a rare basis with approval from top military officials, the people familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.

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The timing of the event has been of particular concern: The speech is set for Sept. 30, the last day of the fiscal year. If there is a government shutdown, it could leave key staff stranded in Virginia as military commands across the globe are juggling the security implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza and the continued threat to U.S. personnel in the Middle East, where the Houthis and other Iranian-backed militias continue to fire missiles and drones at U.S. interests.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/26/hegseth-generals-meeting-warrior-speech/

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According to the article, Hegseth posted a sarcastic "Cool story, General" response after a retired lieutenant general tweeted about German generals being required to swear a personal oath to Hitler in 1935.

Hegseth will reportedly give two more short lectures this year, one on the defense industrial base and the third, on deterrence, in California in December.