Overview
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the secretary will address senior military leaders early next week at Marine Corps Base Quantico but offered no details on purpose or attendees.
- The order, reported to cover commanders at brigadier general rank and above in command roles plus their senior enlisted advisers, would pull leaders from global posts on short notice and exclude staff officers.
- Officials and officers described the in‑person summons as unusual, citing uncertainty, disrupted schedules, and security and readiness risks from concentrating so many top leaders in one place.
- The gathering follows Hegseth’s May directive to cut roughly 20% of four‑star billets, trim general and flag officers more broadly, and subsequent firings of multiple senior commanders across the services.
- News outlets, citing unnamed officials, report possible topics such as a new defense posture prioritizing homeland defense or guidance on standards and the ‘warrior ethos,’ though the Pentagon has not confirmed any agenda.