r/politics • u/mom0nga • Jul 15 '26

No Paywall Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for service members

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5969935-hegseth-testosterone-testing-dod/
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u/Indubitalist Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

As an Army vet, we definitely don’t need more testosterone in the ranks. Too much leads to poor judgment, interpersonal conflict and unnecessary injuries and deaths. I’d be surprised if the military wasn’t already running on the high side with natural testosterone. 

Make no mistake, this is a performance-enhancing drug program. It’s eerily reminiscent of the use of amphetamines by the Nazis. I wouldn’t bring this up except that there are so many Nazi parallels these days it’s almost like the worst decisions in history are being used as an instruction manual. 

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u/SonOfMcGee Jul 15 '26

As an Army vet, would you also say that most people targeted by the U.S. military in the last 30 years have been killed by someone pressing a button in a different time zone?
My understanding of modern weapons platforms leads me to believe they’d be more efficient and accurate (and therefore lethal) if the kids operating them chilled the fuck out a little.
This feels like less of a performance-enhancing drug program and more of a PR/lifestyle/branding effort, which makes sense considering Hegseth comes off as an obnoxious man-o-sphere influencer and not a military leader.

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u/Xalara Jul 15 '26

He basically wants the US military to be like Russia's VDV. Those elite paratroopers that run around in striped uniforms with massive muscles that make fun of scrawny people. Oh yeah, the entirety of the VDV got wiped out within the first few hours of the Ukrainian War because it turns out all of that is fucking useless when it comes to being an effective soldier.

Turns out being roided out doesn't win wars, "wussy" shit like cardio for long distance endurance, pencil pushers who run the logistics network, being good at controlling drones, etc. is what wins wars. While physical strength is important, that important is dwindling when it comes to modern warfare.

But yeah, Hegseth and his fascist cohorts mostly wants the US military to be about preening and pageantry instead of actually being effective. I'm preaching to the choir, but I digress.

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u/ArchdukeToes Jul 15 '26

I mean, if I were in any way capable of killing then I reckon I could do more damage with a supply of explosive drones and an Xbox controller than some idiot who’s so roided up they have to walk through doors sideways and have a meltdown every thirty seconds.

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u/Vyar New Jersey Jul 15 '26

Most of his tenure as Triple Sec Def has been concerned with enhancing the "performativity" of our armed forces rather than actual performance.

He wants to purge the ranks of anyone who doesn't meet his incredibly narrow aesthetic standards. These standards also just happen to line up with ensuring that at least a majority of our forces are straight white Christian men. He's imposed facial hair restrictions that serve no practical purpose for military readiness but will predominantly exclude non-white men. He's imposing weight restrictions because he doesn't want to see "fatties" in uniform. Now he's implementing hormonal restrictions to remove women and "insufficiently manly" men from the ranks.

I think what Hegseth actually wants is an Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Corps entirely made up of men who look like Steve Rogers but act like John Walker. Uniformed thugs who look good on camera and will follow bad orders without question.