Defense Secretary Hegseth Initiates Revamp of Military Chaplain Corps

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced significant changes to the military’s Chaplain Corps in a video message on Tuesday, aiming to refocus the organization on its religious mission. Hegseth declared his intention to “make the Chaplain Corps great again,” emphasizing the need to counter what he described as a trend towards political correctness and secular humanism that has marginalized the role of chaplains.

Hegseth highlighted his concerns about the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide, which he criticized for prioritizing emotional well-being over spiritual guidance. He noted that the guide mentions God only once, while referring to feelings eleven times and even including the term “playfulness” nine times. During the video, he used air quotes while mentioning “feelings,” underscoring his discontent with the guide’s content. He argued that such an approach “alienates” religious soldiers by promoting secular values, leading him to announce the guide’s immediate discontinuation.

The Army Spiritual Fitness Guide, released in August 2025, was developed through a months-long study by III Corps and intended to frame spiritual fitness as integral to overall force readiness. Following Hegseth’s announcement, Tony McCormick, an Army spokesperson, confirmed on Wednesday that efforts are underway to discontinue the guide in alignment with the Secretary’s directive.

Hegseth further detailed plans to simplify the current faith and belief coding system, which he noted has become excessively complicated, ballooning to over two hundred distinct codes. He emphasized that this simplification is part of a broader initiative to enhance the support for spiritual well-being among military personnel.

Looking ahead, Hegseth stated that a “top-down cultural shift” is necessary to elevate spiritual health to the same level as mental and physical health within the military. He believes this will foster a more supportive environment for service members and their spiritual needs.

When questioned about whether his video statement represented a formal policy change and what specific alterations might be made to the roles of military chaplains, a Pentagon press officer indicated that there were no additional comments beyond the content of the video.

As these changes unfold, the military community will be closely watching the impact on the Chaplain Corps and the broader implications for spiritual support within the armed forces.