US Military Leaders Preparing for Virginia Meeting on 'Warrior Ethos'

(Patria) - US military leaders deployed around the world have begun preparing for travel to Virginia for a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next week, which some officials on Friday described as a gathering focused on the "warrior ethos," Reuters reported.

Hegseth on Tuesday invited US generals and admirals from around the world to a meeting in Quantico, Virginia, a rare gathering of the country's military leadership in one place.

While two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the event would focus on Hegseth's discussion of the need to adhere to a "warrior ethos" throughout the military, others said the roughly hour-long event could touch on other areas.

A third official said that, given how many high-ranking officials would be in one location, it is likely that important issues would be discussed, such as the administration's new national defense strategy and the expected reduction in the number of senior military ranks, even if they are not officially on the agenda.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there were some surprises during the event," he said.

"We are not lowering our guard."

Officials told Reuters that the event is expected to take place at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. Some of the highest-ranking officials, who are provided with US military aircraft for official travel, are expected to fly to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The United States has troops around the world, including in remote locations such as South Korea, Japan, and across the Middle East – commanded by two-, three-, and four-star generals and admirals.

In almost every public speech he gives, Hegseth talks about the "warrior ethos" and the need for the US military to have a warrior mentality.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to the "Department of War," restoring a name it bore until after World War II when officials sought to emphasize the Pentagon's role in preventing conflict.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has reshaped the department with stunning speed, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda and eradicate diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.