Defense Secretary Praises Texas Military Department for Replacing Overweight National Guard Troops in Chicago

Defense Secretary Praises Texas Military Department for Replacing Overweight National Guard Troops in Chicago

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised the Texas Military Department for replacing some National Guard troops deployed to Chicago after a photo of overweight service members went viral. The troops were sent to Illinois by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, but a viral photo showing heavyset Guardsmen drew public attention. The National Guard Bureau emphasized the importance of meeting height, weight, and fitness standards for all soldiers and airmen. Following this, a small group of National Guard members in Illinois were replaced for not meeting certain standards. Hegseth has been vocal about the need for military personnel to adhere to strict fitness standards, stating that every service member must pass physical fitness tests and meet height and weight requirements twice a year.