# Hegseth calls all of the top military brass together for an in person meeting **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 26, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409 "2025-09-26T02:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/321 "2025-10-08T10:29:42Z")
> [@rippingtons\_fan](#): > > Hegseth says that it’s OK for drill instructors to lay hands upon (physically abuse) recruits One wonders just what sort of movies he’s been watching. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/322 "2025-10-08T10:47:18Z")
“Help me, step-sergeant, I’m stuck!” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/323 "2025-10-09T09:39:52Z")
See the problem here, from an outsider perspective, is assessing whether, in a conflict between the oath to the constitution and an order from high command, the US military will fire on US citizens. The bigger worry and risk of dire escalation is US citizens firing on the US military. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/324 "2025-10-09T09:54:09Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > The bigger worry and risk of dire escalation is US citizens firing on the US military. This is what I’ve been wondering about. It seems that US citizens have been told since birth that the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) is there so that no more kings will rule over the United States. The Second Amendment is there to guard against tyrannical rule by a monarch who is way out of his lane in acting like a dictator (cf. George III). Now, America has a tyrannical ruler who thinks that he is a king. Are Americans picking up their arms? No? Why not? As Republicans tell us, the Second Amendment is to prevent tyrants from taking over. Now that one is, they are strangely silent. In spite of being patriotic Americans who obey the Constitution; they are in obeisance, fealty, and allegiance to their God, Donald Trump. I’ll say no more. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/325 "2025-10-09T11:00:14Z")
See what I’m warning against, re: military coups?: > **[Brazil’s Bolsonaro was convicted but the military appetite for a coup lingers](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/09/brazil-bolsonaro-convicted-threat-coup#Echobox=1760002096)** > > Armed forces academies teach troops that military control would be better for the country, historians and experts say Don’t think that because you are not Brazil you’d be safe from that mentality taking root. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/326 "2025-10-09T13:07:42Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > As Republicans tell us, the Second Amendment is to prevent tyrants from taking over. Now that one is, they are strangely silent. I wish they were. All too many of them are loudly backing the tyrant. (I grant that I know a couple — not politicians — who have gone rather quiet on the subject of politics lately. I’m not sure whether they’re rethinking things or have just decided that I’m a lost cause.) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/327 "2025-10-09T19:19:39Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Don’t think that because you are not Brazil you’d be safe from that mentality taking root. Well, _historically_ there were plenty of safeguards, training, and an inculcated apolitical culture. Trump purged that (to a degree) in 2016, and has now in 2.0 burned all of that the ground, pissed on it’s ashes, and is actively (this whole thread) turning it on it’s head. And whether or not we enter into a warmish Civil War (I’d argue we’re in a cool one already and getting warmer by the second) I am not sure we’ll recover from the damage done anymore. He’s proved it’s far too easy, and there’s going to be plenty to learn all the wrong lessons from this set of events - and control of the military and thus it’s own role as a Kingmaker is _likely_ to be a big part of whatever the future holds for the autocratic-types of the future. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/328 "2025-10-09T20:39:22Z")
The thing about military coups is that they always end up with military guys in power, and Trump ain’t no military guy. The military may seize power in his name, but he’ll end up a figurehead, if he doesn’t suffer an “accident” first. He’s just not one of them, and never will be. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/329 "2025-10-09T21:11:33Z")
If only he hadn’t developed those bone spurs on his heels 😜 . ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/330 "2025-10-09T21:43:06Z")
Yes and the other thing is that military guys are… well guys, humans and thus corruptible (and power…), and humans not particularly well versed in governance and/or economics. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/331 "2025-10-09T22:13:29Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Originally it consisted of 100 men, thus the name. Until they messed up, and were decimated. Then there were only 90….. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/332 "2025-10-09T22:20:32Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Now, America has a tyrannical ruler who thinks that he is a king. Are Americans picking up their arms? No? Why not? As Republicans tell us, the Second Amendment is to prevent tyrants from taking over. Now that one is, they are strangely silent. It may be that they define “tyrant” as someone who opposes white supremacy. Someone who _supports_ white supremacy, by their definition, is no tyrant. Instead he is the Dear Leader. > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > See the problem here, from an outsider perspective, is assessing whether, in a conflict between the oath to the constitution and an order from high command, the US military will fire on US citizens. They will be told two things: one, that their careers and fortunes depend upon their obeying orders to fire on US citizens. And two, that the US citizens they’re asked to fire on are actually Terrorists. Yes, even if it’s a troop of Cub Scouts. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/333 "2025-10-09T23:16:24Z")
And then they messed up again and there were only 81… ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/334 "2025-10-10T11:46:41Z")
And then there were 72.9…uh… ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/335 "2025-10-10T11:49:36Z")
Decimation is not taught in schools anymore. It is hard! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/336 "2025-10-10T12:56:48Z")
Is there any sign of practical results from the speech? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/337 "2025-10-10T20:20:07Z")
73 Legionnaires but only 729 fingers. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/338 "2025-10-10T20:22:26Z")
I read that a commander of some sort quit following the speech, but I apologize, I have zero details about that. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/339 "2025-10-12T13:35:35Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Is there any sign of practical results from the speech? Son-in-law was one dragooned into attendance. Silence was deafening. Most comments amongst members were, ‘What changed?’ PT requirements were the same. Will there be changes in recruit treatment? No, there won’t be any romatisized (by Kegsbreath) beatings of trainees. The rest was rah…rah…shit. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/340 "2025-10-12T15:55:24Z")
Yeah, it has been pointed out in other sources: the standards ARE the standards. If you changed them so that only the top scoring young males even qualify, you’re going to be washing out a whole damn lot of _other males_ too. Including a lot of his preferred clean-shaven, low-BMI, aggressive boys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=18)