Pete Hegseth Administers Oath and Addresses ROTC at Tennessee
“For 251 years, Americans raised their right hand and said, ‘send me;’ send me to fight the redcoats, send me to fight the Nazis, send me to fight the communists, send me to fight the Islamists,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with two groups of young Americans on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville who volunteered to defend the nation, falling in line behind generations of Americans who served in past domestic and international conflicts.
Before attending a football game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to young men and women representing all service branches and the Tennessee National Guard. He also addressed cadets in the university’s ROTC program.
Enlistment and the Four Elements of National Power
Hegseth told the cadets and enlistees that they are engaged in peacemaking to ensure peace through strength and keep the American homeland safe. He pointed out that if any entity should win the Nobel Peace Prize annually, it should be the United States military.
The secretary explained the four elements of national power within the federal government, known as DIME: diplomatic, informational, military, and economic. He told the troops they operate squarely within the military lane.
When the military is strong, prepared, and lethal, Hegseth said, the nation can afford to pursue diplomacy and economic initiatives. He expressed confidence that University of Tennessee ROTC graduates will soon deploy to strategic global locations such as the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. southern border, or Europe.
Hegseth Guides War Department with Three Core Principles
Since assuming office at the Pentagon in January 2025, Hegseth stated he has guided the War Department using three core principles: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, and reestablishing deterrence. Restoring that ethos means returning to basics, including colorblind, gender-neutral, and merit-based accountability, along with strict standards, discipline, and readiness.
Rebuilding the warrior ethos involves building trust between leaders and service members through what Hegseth calls the golden rule. First discussed in August 2025 when addressing U.S. military senior leaders in Quantico, Virginia, the rule requires leaders to treat their service formations the same way they would treat their own sons or daughters.
Hegseth promised the parents of the newly enlisted youth that the military will not change standards based on quotas or focus on divisive issues, but will instead prioritize shared purpose and commitment to the Constitution.