Defense Secretary gives troops a 144-page manual containing his speeches and a presidential foreword
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth distributed a manual to about 600 service members that includes transcripts of his recent speeches and a forward written by President Donald Trump, while announcing personnel reductions and requesting additional funding.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth handed a 144-page field manual to roughly 600 troops attending his State of the Force address at Quantico, Virginia, on Wednesday. The booklet contains transcripts of Hegseth’s September 2025 speech on restoring a "warrior ethos" and his January 2026 remarks on "technological dominance," in which he praised Elon Musk and SpaceX as examples of American innovation.
The manual opens with a forward attributed to President Donald Trump that mirrors the style of a social-media post.
"Our goal is PEACE, which is why we prepare for War — especially the Wars of the future. As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not ask you to fight dumb Wars. I will unleash you to be violent, lethal and unstoppable — and I will always have your back. Godspeed, Great Warriors. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
During his address, Hegseth announced a planned 20 percent reduction in the number of admirals and generals and urged Congress to increase funding for the Department of Defense, citing a promise from the president for a "generational investment" in the military. He also criticized media coverage of the ongoing conflict with Iran, claiming it gave Iranian state media an undue appearance of credibility.
The distribution of the manual and the content of the speeches reflect the current administration’s emphasis on military readiness, technological competition, and a shift in leadership messaging within the Pentagon.