Pentagon Orders Sweeping Overhaul of Military Education to Strengthen Combat Readiness

By Amr Gohar

Washington DC – The U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered a sweeping overhaul of the American military education system, introducing mandatory war simulations, tougher examinations and significant changes to faculty employment policies as part of an effort to strengthen combat readiness and prepare military commanders for future conflicts.

According to a press release issued by the Department of War on Monday, the reforms will affect senior military colleges and intermediate-level education institutions across the United States, shifting their focus away from what the Pentagon describes as ideological distractions and toward battlefield leadership, strategic decision-making and operational effectiveness.

The new measures include mandatory competitive wargaming exercises and comprehensive final examinations designed to assess students’ tactical and strategic capabilities. The Pentagon will also establish specialized teaching positions for experienced military commanders returning from operational deployments, allowing students to receive instruction based on real-world combat experience.

In a major change to military academic employment policies, the department will eliminate lifetime tenure and emeritus status for newly hired civilian faculty, replacing them with three-year, performance-based contracts. Instructors will be evaluated on teaching effectiveness and research contributions related to national security.

The directive also requires senior Pentagon officials to closely monitor the implementation of the reforms to ensure military education institutions meet the new requirements and maintain higher standards of accountability.

Hegseth’s directive establishes a central question for evaluating military education programs: “Does this program forge leaders who will win America’s wars?”

The Pentagon said the changes are intended to prioritize combat effectiveness, strengthen military leadership and ensure that future American commanders are better prepared to make critical decisions during complex military operations.