In "The Art of War," Chinese military general and strategist Sun Tzu wrote, "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."

It's 2025 now, and I don't want war, but I want to live in an America with a military that embodies a victorious warrior spirit all the same. This is the best way to deter war and be prepared when it inevitably occurs.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, formerly the secretary of Defense, gave a speech on Sept. 30 to hundreds of senior military leaders gathered that I hope will inspire such a spirit again. I'm glad he is instilling this mindset across the 1.3 million active-duty members of the U.S. military. We need it.

Hegseth demands better leadership, an overhaul of standards

In his speech, Hegseth said that there are "thousands" of variables in combat, but that leaders can only control training, equipment and leadership.

So he aimed to inspire the leaders in the room to be the best in the world and demand better of every person under them. I support this goal. We spend more than $820 billion on our defense budget. Everything in our military, from equipment to people, should be top-tier.

“We have a sacred duty to ensure that our warriors are led by the most capable and qualified combat leaders. This is one thing you and I can control, and we owe it to the force to deliver," Hegseth said.

He informed our military leaders that new standards would apply to everyone, whether private or general, to begin to demonstrate this new idea. All military members must meet height and weight standards, and every member of the joint force at every rank must take a fitness test twice per year.

"It's tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops," Hegseth said. "Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon, and leading commands around the country and the world. It's a bad look, it is bad, and it's not who we are."

Firm, high physical standards are a simple way to ensure that our military members remain ready for worst-case scenarios. This should not be offensive or insulting. Readiness is one of the goals of the military.

Hegseth sets straight women in combat roles

The head of the Department of War made waves when President Donald Trump chose him for this position, in part because of what was seen as Hegseth's tough stance on women in combat.

In his speech to military leaders, the Pentagon chief stated that the new rules for combat roles will require everyone to meet the "highest male standard,” even if women can't meet it.

“If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it,” Hegseth said. “That is not the intent, but it could be the result.”

I'm a woman and I support this. It is not sexist to force women (or men) in combat to meet the same high standards or be disqualified. If this sounds harsh or exclusive to everyone else, it should.

Our military should not be the same as our civilian world. It should be set apart, strive for excellence and be extraordinary in providing for our nation's defense.

Hegseth has had enough of mediocrity in the military: “For too long, we've promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons, based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts. ... Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the woke department.”

Not once did Hegseth acquiesce to average or normal catch phrases one might hear in a corporate setting or on social media. He didn't hedge to sound cool, hip or politically correct. I support this, too.

Hegseth told the room that if their hearts sank while listening to him, they "should do the honorable thing and resign," and the military would thank them. But he said he suspected these words of discipline and encouragement were actually more inspiring than discouraging.

"You are hereby liberated to be an apolitical, hard-charging, no-nonsense constitutional leader that you joined the military to be," Hegseth said.

I couldn't agree more. I voted for this and would do so again.

No doubt the left will criticize Hegseth's speech, his tough stance on physical standards and women in combat roles, but there's nothing wrong with pushing members of our armed forces to be excellent. Millions of Americans will resonate with this speech and feel proud of America again. Victorious warriors win before war even begins.

Nicole Russell is a columnist at USA TODAY and a mother of four who lives in Texas. Contact her at nrussell@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @russell_nm. Sign up for her weekly newsletter, The Right Track, here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Hegseth is right. We should demand a higher standard for our military. | Opinion

Reporting by Nicole Russell, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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