The unusual directive forced senior leaders to travel from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for a gathering that many feared could signal major cuts — or even firings.

That Donald Trump would also speak did little to calm nerves.

”Overweight generals and admirals”

When the meeting finally kicked off at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laid out his vision for the future of the forces.

He grabbed attention for his calls to end so-called “woke” practices in the military, targeting everything from female service members to beards.

“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat units with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,” Hegseth said.

The secretary also criticized what he called ‘overweight generals and