If it were you, would you go???--Trump said he's attending and it's about telling them "how well the military is doing."AI summary below.

AI Overview

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals, admirals, and their aides for a rare, large-scale meeting at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025

. All general and flag officers—those with one to four stars—along with their top enlisted advisers were ordered to attend, totaling around 800 people.

No public list of specific names has been released, and many attendees were given little notice or information about the purpose of the meeting.

Details about the meeting

Attendees: The directive includes all senior officers at the rank of brigadier general or above, their Navy equivalents, and their top enlisted advisers. These officers are stationed around the world and were required to travel to Virginia on short notice.

Purpose: Sources state that Hegseth intends to discuss his vision for the military, specifically centered on restoring what he calls a "warrior ethos". The gathering has been described as a "show of force" highlighting the military's new direction under the Trump administration.

Trump's attendance: President Donald Trump plans to attend the event, though it is unclear if his remarks will be public. His attendance has added to the unusual and political nature of the gathering.

Cost and concerns: The hastily arranged meeting has raised logistical concerns over security and the millions of dollars in travel expenses required to bring military leaders from around the world to one location.

Context for the gathering

The meeting follows a series of military leadership changes under the new administration. Notable firings and forced retirements in 2025 include:

General Charles Q. Brown Jr.: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General David Allvin: Former Air Force Chief of Staff

Admiral Lisa Franchetti: Former Chief of Naval Operations

Admiral Linda Fagan: Former Commandant of the Coast Guard

Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse: Former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency

Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore: Former Chief of the Navy Reserve

Rear Admiral Milton Sands: Former head of Naval Special Warfare Command

Some of these firings and retirements were reportedly based on the administration's campaign against diversity-related issues, though specific reasons were not always publicly stated.