Texas Military Department replaces a “small group” of National Guard members deployed to Chicago who did not meet physical standards, a move championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has recently stressed the need for strict military fitness.
The controversy began after a highly publicized photo of seemingly overweight Texas National Guard members arriving in Chicago went viral, drawing public criticism.
The troops were part of a 200-member deployment ordered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
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Following the backlash, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly supported the subsequent action, posting on social media that “Standards are back at The Department of War.”
Hegseth has been a vocal proponent of strict fitness standards, having recently stated he no longer wants to see “fat troops” or “fat generals and admirals.”
The Texas Military Department confirmed to Task & Purpose that a “small group” of the deployed troops were replaced after a “concurrent validation process” found them to be non-compliant with physical fitness and weight requirements.
The National Guard Bureau also issued a statement reiterating that all service members must meet physical standards and that anyone found not in compliance during mobilization is returned to their home station and replaced.
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