America's Military Tradition Meets a Moment of Disrespect: A Reflection on the Quantico Assembly by Michael A. Smith Ongoing Historian Contributor

 

America’s Military Tradition Meets a Moment of Disrespect: A Reflection on the Quantico Assembly

Michael A. Smith

Historian | Author | Public Theologian

In a nation that has long revered its military leaders, the events at Quantico, Virginia last week marked a jarring departure from tradition. 

Nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted leaders—men and women who have sworn oaths to defend the Constitution and who have led troops in war and peace—were summoned to a hastily arranged meeting. What they received was not strategic briefing or solemn recognition, but a public dressing-down from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who used the occasion to rail against “woke” culture, berate physical appearances, and promote a return to “highest male standards” in combat.

A Legacy of Civil-Military Separation

From the founding of the republic, America’s relationship with its military leaders has been one of admiration tempered by constitutional caution. George Washington’s resignation of his commission in 1783 remains one of the most powerful gestures in American political history—a deliberate act to prevent the rise of military autocracy and to affirm civilian control over the armed forces. Every general who later ascended to the presidency—Grant, Eisenhower, even Jackson—followed this precedent, maintaining a clear boundary between military command and political power.

This tradition is not merely symbolic. It is foundational. The military serves the Constitution, not a party or a person. And while presidents are commanders-in-chief, they are expected to respect the institution’s apolitical stance, its internal professionalism, and its sacred trust with the American people.

The Spectacle at Quantico

The gathering at Quantico shattered that trust. Defense Secretary Hegseth, who has faced criticism for his own military record and public behavior, launched into a tirade against “fat generals,” “toxic leaders,” and diversity initiatives. He strutted across the stage, invoking crude slang (“FAFO”—an acronym for “F*** Around, Find Out”) and demanding a return to grooming and fitness standards that many saw as exclusionary and regressive.

President Trump followed with a speech that veered into campaign-style rhetoric, invoking tariffs, the Nobel Peace Prize, and his controversial executive order to use the military in domestic law enforcement. He praised the “warrior spirit” and suggested that American cities could serve as “training grounds” for handling “the enemy within.”

For many in the room, the spectacle was not just inappropriate—it was humiliating. These were not political operatives or campaign donors. They were career officers, many with combat experience, some with wounds both visible and invisible. To be summoned under threat of retribution, only to be berated and used as props, was a profound breach of respect.

The Cost of Contempt

The emotional toll of such treatment cannot be overstated. Among those present were leaders who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam—some who had been prisoners of war, others who had lost limbs or comrades. To be called cowards, to be mocked for their appearance, and to be subjected to partisan theater undermines not only morale but the very fabric of civil-military relations.

It is especially galling when such contempt comes from leaders whose own service records are marked by controversy. Hegseth’s military career, while real, has been overshadowed by allegations of misconduct and public intoxication. Trump, who received multiple deferments during the Vietnam War, has previously disparaged decorated veterans, including the late Senator John McCain, a former POW, whom he infamously said was “not a war hero” because he was captured.

A Moment for Reflection

This moment demands more than outrage. It calls for reflection on what kind of republic we wish to be. 

Do we honor the tradition of Washington, who understood the danger of military power unchecked by principle? Or do we slide into a culture where loyalty is demanded, not earned, and where the military is used as a stage for political grievance?

The officers at Quantico deserved better. They deserved the respect that comes with service, the dignity that comes with sacrifice, and the constitutional clarity that has guided America for over two centuries. To berate them is not just a breach of decorum—it is a betrayal of the very values they swore to defend.

—Written in the spirit of civic clarity and historical conscience...MAS

Morning news of generals resigning after Quantico meeting 10/9

While there have not been mass resignations on October 9, 2025, the days following a controversial Quantico meeting on September 30 have seen two high-profile retirements and have led to speculation and fear of further departures

. The meeting was led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and attended by hundreds of generals and admirals. 

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