Because when an officer sees a soldier with an unshaven face and fails to correct him, the new standard becomes “it’s fine to skip shaving.” When the highest-ranking military officer (e.g., Mark Milley) is corpulent, the new standard becomes “it’s fine to be fat.” And when the U.S. military fails to win wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and no general officers are fired for combat ineffectiveness, the new standard becomes “it’s fine to lose wars.” Over time, small deviations from the standards eroded the quality and readiness of our military personnel, and the character of our military institution. In his own remarks to the generals and admirals, Trump said the purpose of the American military is “not to protect anyone’s feelings, it’s to protect our republic […] to protect our country,” and that’s why the Trump administration is “bringing back a focus on fitness, ability, character, and strength.” This is the latest chapter in Trump’s ongoing effort to restore trust in our government by reconstructing the character and integrity of its institutions.
Author: RealClearWire
Published at: 2025-10-11 21:04:07
Still want to read the full version? Full article
