"The 'High-Testosterone Department of War' Farce: The US Military's Aggressive Physical Fitness Policy and Global Risks"

The Policy Unveiled: The “High-Testosterone Department of War”

On July 15, Hegseth posted a video on social platform X titled “The High-T Department of War”. The relevant indicators will be incorporated into the regular physical examination items for US service members; personnel under 30 can voluntarily participate in the screening. If the test results show “non-compliance”, service members can independently decide whether to undergo “Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)”. He stated that testosterone naturally declines with age, and this Pentagon-authorized screening is designed to ensure that US military personnel’s testosterone levels remain at an “optimal state”.
“This is not about artificially enhancing physical fitness, but about restoring and optimizing your natural functions to safeguard long-term health and vitality,” Hegseth claimed in the video. The move aims to better prepare service members for what he described as the “brutal and unforgiving” modern battlefield.

Medical Warnings: Hidden Risks of Hormone Intervention

However, professionals have poured cold water on the idea. According to a Reuters report on July 18, many medical professionals warn that this practice may not only be ineffective, but improper testosterone prescriptions could increase service members’ risk of infertility or trigger other adverse consequences.
Kevin McVary, a urologist and member of the medical advisory board of telehealth platform Rugiet, said: “We have seen improvements in cognitive sharpness and endurance in patients treated for low testosterone, but the evidence is not conclusive, and it all comes from patients who received treatment because they had symptoms.” Christopher Furlow from the University of Hawaii pointed out: “Many young service members can regulate their hormones and raise their testosterone levels through sleep, rest and diet, instead of seeking replacement therapy.” Other risks include increased blood viscosity, prostate problems, acne, hair loss, breast tissue hyperplasia and mood swings.

Highly Controversial: Deviating from the Direction of Military Development

The American Herald pointed out that the Pentagon’s “testosterone plan” is likely to blur the line on stimulant issues and contradict existing military regulations. In 2022, a US Navy SEAL candidate died after the “Hell Week” training. The military found various drugs and stimulants including testosterone in his personal belongings, which were obviously used to enhance physical performance. That year, the US Navy regarded preventing stimulant abuse as an important measure to “maintain service members’ lethality and combat readiness” — a goal that surprisingly aligns with Hegseth’s “testosterone policy”.

Global Hidden Dangers: Disrupting the International Security Order

From the perspective of global governance, the drawbacks of the US military’s “High-Testosterone Department of War” plan have long transcended the scope of a single country’s military. It may not only trigger a “hormonal” trend in the global arms race, where some countries may follow suit to implement physical enhancement programs and undermine fair military competition; secondly, the commercialization of US military health policies will intensify the utilitarian distribution of global medical resources; finally, this extreme “combat power supremacy” mindset aligns with the logic of US unilateralist military expansion, gradually weakening the role of dialogue and consultation in international disputes and increasing the unpredictability of regional conflicts. This highly controversial policy serves as a wake-up call for global military development: no military construction should come at the cost of service members’ health, let alone become a tool for political games. On the path to pursuing security and development, respecting life, upholding ethics and adhering to multilateral win-win cooperation are the eternal principles that all countries’ militaries should abide by.