Yesterday, the Military Times posted a story about hazing and bullying in the military. Those are serious allegations, of course, but instead of addressing the legitimate concerns they raise, the implication is that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is behind it. Why? Because Hegseth has pushed for tougher training, a return to rigorous fitness standards, and a revival of the warrior mentality.
While hazing reports saw an upswing in 2024 after three years of steady decline, bullying complaints have been steadily increasing since 2020. https://t.co/41k3GRMlpF
— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) November 25, 2025
When the Pentagon’s top civilian Pete Hegseth told an auditorium full of generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in September that he felt proscriptions against bullying and hazing were “undercutting commanders and [noncommissioned officers],” the military was already seeing a rise in complaints about these practices.
That’s according to a Defense Department report published in June and obtained by Military Times. The congressionally mandated report, which tracks the reporting and adjudication of hazing and bullying within the armed forces but does not include reports from boot camp and entry-level training, shows that while overall numbers remain small, the Marine Corps continues to be the greatest source of complaints among the services. It also shows that data collection on accountability actions for those found to have perpetrated hazing behaviors is inconsistent.
In fiscal 2024, the last year for which data is available, troops submitted 138 complaints of hazing, of which 31, or 22%, were substantiated. That’s up from 121 complaints and 29 substantiations the previous year. They also made 1,058 reports of bullying, of which 227, or 21%, were substantiated. That’s up from 932 bullying reports and 175 substantiations in fiscal 2023.
While hazing reports saw an upswing in 2024 after three years of steady decline, bullying complaints, both total and substantiated, have been steadily increasing since 2020.
Recommended
Keen-eyed readers have probably picked up on the problem with this argument, but if you haven't, here it is: all of these data and reports come during...the Biden administration.
This was a fact the Department of War Rapid Response account was glad to point out.
FUN FACT: The “data” in this report is from FY24… the Biden-era DEI Pentagon. pic.twitter.com/SK6JpUgBpq
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) November 26, 2025
Who could have predicted that a bunch of woke DEI hires would create a toxic work environment, even in the military? Oh, that's right — everyone.
Its been 20 years since my rank was literally pounded into my collar bone. My blood rank will always be a proud moment for me.
— Beekeeping in Maine 🐝 🍯 🐝 (@njhamlin) November 26, 2025
As it should be.
It isn’t hazing when you are being trained
— coffee_dog (@JeffreyNei75931) November 26, 2025
High stress training in a controlled environment enables ability for high stress management in the field.
This is why veterans are veterans.
They really want to go back to having a weak, ill-prepared military.
No way you are in the military and "reporting" "bullying." https://t.co/JBSeKzjSaQ
— Landon Smith (@catecumenical) November 26, 2025
During the Biden era? Yeah, you were. That's what DEI is all about.
Gotta love those facts. Liberals are allergic to them though. https://t.co/3RdEna8wOY
— “The Crafty Mimi” (@MimiRathbone) November 26, 2025
Yes, they are.
We were just joking the other day at work how we could all be "journalists" most just write completely misleading headlines these days.
— Rogue Prodigal (@ImNoBetterThanU) November 26, 2025
This is the the first line in the third paragraph "In fiscal 2024, the last year for which data is available"
I will provide the link but why… https://t.co/uALc4tTtM7
They know the data is from the Biden administration, yet they blame Hegseth for the problems. This shouldn't surprise us, however. During the first 100 days of the Trump administration, guess which Cabinet member had 100 percent negative stories about him?
Despite meeting enlistment goals and restoring pride in the military, it seems the media still can't bring themselves to say anything positive about Hegseth.
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.
Help us report on Trump and Hegesth's successes as they make our military great again. Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member