Pete Hegseth: US defense secretary announces testosterone tests for soldiers over 30
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The U.S. Department of Defense will begin testing soldiers aged 30 and older for testosterone levels.
- This initiative aims to ensure soldiers maintain optimal performance and natural capabilities.
- Treatment will be recommended for those with deficiencies, though it will not be mandatory.
U.S. soldiers aged 30 and above will undergo mandatory testosterone testing as part of their annual health assessments, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This measure aims to ensure that service members maintain peak physical and cognitive performance. Hegseth stated that the initiative is not about artificial enhancement but about restoring and optimizing natural abilities. Soldiers found to have testosterone deficiencies will be recommended for treatment, though this will not be compulsory. Hegseth emphasized that the individual soldier is the U.S.'s most critical tactical asset, and preserving this advantage is a "sacred duty." For soldiers under 30, the test will be voluntary. Hegseth has been a driving force behind changes in the Defense Department, which he refers to as the "War Department," consistently advocating for a warrior ethos and the ideal of a traditional male fighter.
For this initiative, it's not about artificial enhancement, but about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, and ensuring that you have the biological foundation that is necessary to endure the fight.
Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.