Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced six major initiatives aimed at reshaping the Department of War, speaking directly to mid-level officers and non-commissioned officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The package includes the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command, a new Corps of Cadets program, a homeland readiness effort called FORTRESS America, plans for a next-generation military base, an Office of Religious Affairs, and Project Meridian — a rapid study of future warfighting technologies that will be co-directed by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich.
The Autonomous Warfare Command will become a four-star functional combatant command by October 1, 2027. It builds on existing drone programs and will be led by Owen West, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser under a dual leadership structure.
America’s Corps of Cadets expands officer training by partnering with Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University, and Hillsdale College. The schools will be designated Distinguished Military Colleges with elevated standards and priority in officer commissioning.
FORTRESS America focuses on making U.S. military installations more self-reliant. It calls for independent power generation at major bases, bringing critical supply chains such as rare earths and semiconductors back to the United States, building strategic reserves of munitions and medical supplies, and hardening facilities against cyberattacks, sabotage, and drones.
The Next Great American Base initiative seeks to construct a large, modern installation from the ground up with independent power, autonomous systems, and advanced defenses. States will compete to host the base through a transparent process emphasizing land availability and reduced regulations.
The new Office of Religious Affairs will report directly to the Secretary and work to strengthen spiritual readiness across the force while protecting free exercise of religion. Service chaplaincies will remain the primary providers of religious support.
Project Meridian, led by Musk, Luckey, and Gingrich with support from academic and industry experts, has 120 days to produce a public report and classified annex identifying the technologies needed for long-term military superiority across domains ranging from underground to space.
Hegseth framed the initiatives as a continuation of efforts to prioritize lethality, the warfighter, and rapid modernization.
