Overview

• The directive applies to officers at brigadier general rank and above in command roles, plus their senior enlisted advisers, totaling roughly 800 leaders worldwide.
• The gathering is set for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, with many commanders rapidly rearranging schedules to attend.
• Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed only that the secretary will address senior leaders next week, offering no details on purpose or agenda.
• The summons follows months of leadership shake-ups and planned reductions, including Hegseth’s May order to cut four-star billets by about 20% and trim general and flag officer positions across the services.
• Current and former officials warn of unusual security and readiness risks in concentrating so many top officers, while speculation about topics—ranging from command reorganization to a revised defense strategy—remains unconfirmed.