In a move that signals a significant shift in military academy admissions policy, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum Friday mandating a strict merit-based selection process, effectively ending consideration of race, ethnicity, and sex.
The memo, addressed to senior Pentagon leadership, directs the Secretaries of the Military Departments to certify within 30 days that admissions to the Military Service Academies (MSAs) for the 2026 cycle and beyond will adhere to two key directives:
- Elimination of Race, Ethnicity, and Sex Consideration: The memo explicitly states that admissions offices are to “apply no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex.”
- Exclusive Merit-Based Admissions: Hegseth emphasizes that admission must be “based exclusively on merit.”
READ: Judge Greenlights CIA Firing Of Global Health Director Amid Vaccine Mandate Controversy
The memo defines “merit-based scores” as potentially including factors such as “unique athletic talent” and “other experiences such as prior military service or performance at a MSA preparatory school.” Furthermore, it instructs MSAs to “rank-order candidates by merit-based scores within each nomination category” as outlined in relevant U.S. Code sections, and expresses the Department’s expectation that “the highest-ranking candidates within each nomination category should receive appointments.”
Hegseth’s directive aligns with his earlier January 29, 2025, memorandum, “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” which underscored the importance of maintaining a culture of excellence within the military. In the current memo, he argues that selecting candidates based on anything other than merit “erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces.”
READ: DHS Says Democrats “Stormed” New Jersey ICE Site; Mayor Arrested Amid Dueling Narratives
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness is tasked with certifying the MSAs’ compliance with the merit-based admissions processes after the 2026 admissions cycle.
The full impact of this policy shift will become clearer as the 2026 admissions cycle progresses and the military departments implement the new guidelines.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
