US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticised "fat generals" and diversity initiatives that he says have led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders they should resign if they don't support his agenda.

"Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the 'Woke Department'," Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia.

"But not anymore," he said.

Addressing the room full of the United States' top generals and admirals, abruptly summoned from around the world last week, Hegseth defended his firings of flag officers.

He said the officers he relieved were part of a broken culture.

He promised sweeping changes to how discrimination complaints are handled and how accusations of wrong

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