The Pentagon will conduct testosterone deficiency screenings for active-duty service members who are at least 30 years old and recommend hormonal treatments to boost the U.S. military’s strength, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday.
Hegseth cast the “High-T” military initiative as part of the War Department’s “sacred duty” to maintain the nation’s “most decisive tactical advantage” in each “individual warfighter” on the battlefield.
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“I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best,” Hegseth said in a video, mentioning that testosterone levels typically decrease as people progress in age.
Soldiers aged 30 and older are required to be tested annually for testosterone as part of their existing health assessment, the Pentagon chief explained. Service members under 30 can volunteer for testing if they wish, but it is not mandatory.
Any medical treatment, such as testosterone replacement therapy, recommended by doctors will remain optional for patients with low testosterone levels.
Both men and women experience a natural decline in testosterone as they age, though the drop affects men more acutely. Women naturally produce roughly 10 to 20 times less testosterone than men.
“This initiative, it’s not about artificial enhancement,” Hegseth said. “It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain life.”
“The modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting. It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness,” he continued. “By addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation the absolute best.”
The War Department did not say when the new initiative will start, but its announcement marks the latest policy change at the Pentagon.
Hegseth recently reiterated his no-beard policy for military personnel and continues to push higher physical fitness standards. The Cabinet secretary has reportedly been frustrated with troops’ lack of adherence to the grooming rules and training requirements.
The renewed emphasis on appearance and fitness comes as the United States continues fighting Iran after the ceasefire collapsed.
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“Secretary Hegseth maintains the highest expectations for our service members to uphold the professional standards of appearance, fitness, and discipline that define our warfighting force, and he continues to emphasize consistent enforcement of hair, weight, and grooming standards across all ranks,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell previously told the Washington Examiner.
“Commanders at every level are expected to lead by example by meeting these standards, implementing these requirements, and they will be held accountable for delivering results as the Department works to restore a culture of excellence and readiness,” Parnell added. “Our Armed Forces are stronger when every service member meets and exceeds these expectations.”
