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Standards in America's finest, our military, have crumbled to a disgraceful low.
Images of overweight Texas National Guard soldiers, deployed to Chicago, have gone viral, exposing a shameful truth: our forces include "fat troops." This isn’t just negligence — it’s deliberate sabotage, setting us up to lose wars.
The Texas Military Department confirmed to Task & Purpose that "a small group" of the 200 National Guard soldiers sent to Illinois last week were replaced for failing to meet fitness standards.
Viral photos, showing heavyset Guardsmen lugging rifles and duffels, sparked the fallout.
OVERWEIGHT TROOPS SENT HOME: After an uproar on social media over photos of Texas National Guard deployed to Illinois appearing to be overweight, some of them have been sent back home. https://t.co/d8vvK3shdT pic.twitter.com/xwxelv7QDe
— FOX SA (@KABBFOX29) October 13, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, addressing commanders on Sept. 30, declared, "Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops. Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world."
Hegseth calls out “fat” troops and generals. He says going forward, every service member will need to pass the physical test twice a year if they want to remain a member of the armed services.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 30, 2025
He says being a fat soldier is “unacceptable”.
He’s correct.
pic.twitter.com/h0WUza6tpG
He mandated two annual fitness tests and daily workouts for active-duty troops.
"Standards are back at The@DeptofWar," Hegseth posted on social media, celebrating replacements, alongside a Task & Purpose screenshot.
A Texas Guard member, speaking anonymously, blamed the rushed Illinois deployment, ordered by the Trump administration within 24 hours.
"Few if any states have the kind of training and readiness that Texas has, which is why they could be on the ground in Chicago within 24 hours," the member said.
Screenings, including dental, physical, mental health, and financial exams, were rushed, allowing three or four unfit soldiers to slip through initially.
They were later replaced, not due to the photo but as screenings continued, the member claimed.
"When mobilizing for active duty, members go through a validation process to ensure they meet requirements," The National Guard Bureau stated. "On the rare occasions when members are found not in compliance, they will not go on mission."
The deployment aimed to protect federal officials at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility amid protests.
A Chicago federal appeals court allowed troops to remain federalized but blocked active deployment. U.S. District Judge April Perry issued a two-week restraining order, citing no evidence of rebellion and potential 10th and 14th Amendment violations.
The Trump administration vows to fight Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s lawsuit, likely heading to the Supreme Court.
The Texas Military Department told Task & Purpose, "In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission. The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced."
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