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MIAMI – When newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed U.S. troops in September with his now-infamous challenge to “get fit, get in line, or get out,” he framed his message as a “come-to-Jesus meeting.”
The speech, delivered at Quantico and amplified through conservative media, echoed themes of discipline, masculinity, and ideological purity. “We don’t have a military full of Nordic Pagans,” he declared—linking physical appearance, faith, and patriotism in a way that startled many service members and religious observers alike.
US Pentagon [Public Domain]
For some Pagans and Heathens serving within the military, the remarks struck a deep and personal chord related to their spirituality. They heard in them a revival of exclusionary rhetoric that undermines both religious freedom and the pluralism that defines today’s armed forces. Others saw a troubling step backward from the inclusive standards that have guided the Department of Defense for decades.
The Wild Hunt invited Pagan voices within the military to share their experiences and perspectives on Hegseth’s comments. We received these three honest and unfiltered letters. They come from different corners of the service: a young Army recruit still learning what Ásatrú means; a Reservist sergeant who honors Freyja while navigating a culture of silence; and a career officer who has served long enough to see how rhetoric can erode trust.
Together, their words reveal the realities of faith and duty in today’s military and the quiet courage it takes to serve both one’s gods and one’s country when powerful voices question your right to belong.
To preserve their voices, we have chosen to publish the letters in their entirety.
The following letter was sent by a U.S. Army Reservist who asked to be identified as “Tommy” (he/him) for his safety. Tommy is an Ásatrú Heathen who worships Freyja and serves as a sergeant. His comments are published here with minimal edits for clarity.
I want to thank you for reaching out to me about my experience and how the Department of Defense has been changing over these past months.
As a Norse Pagan, I’ve chosen not to apply for a religious accommodation for a beard. While I’m proud of my faith, I’ve learned to be cautious. Even under previous Equal Opportunity protections, being openly Pagan in the military carried risk. I respect comrades who went through the process to secure accommodations, but I’ve seen the “invisible target” that appears on their backs once they do.
Under the current administration, that risk has only grown. I now only grow my beard when I’m off duty. I’ve witnessed the comments and looks that another soldier endured because of his religious accommodation. Reporting those remarks might technically be allowed — but doing so could result in backlash for both of us.
Secretary Hegseth’s new guidelines seem, at first glance, to target soldiers of color and undermine what I consider the military’s greatest strength: its diversity and flexibility. These new rules hit especially hard for those who are subject matter experts in their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). A beard, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with mission readiness.
When Hegseth said, “If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave. We don’t have a military full of Nordic Pagans,” it felt like a direct attack. As a Pagan, I heard that loud and clear. It was painful.
Under this administration, I already felt betrayed by people I once believed were defending the same Constitution I swore to protect. Pagans already face scrutiny from multiple fronts, but to be specifically singled out raises serious concerns — not only about civilian ridicule, but also about how we are treated within the ranks.
We must look out for one another — physically, mentally, and emotionally — because it’s clear no one else will do it for us.
I believe that being open about your faith can fight stigma within the ranks. While I don’t preach about my path, I’m willing to talk about it when asked. Faith should never interfere with the mission — but respecting each other’s beliefs makes the mission stronger.
As a sergeant, I see it as my duty to protect the junior enlisted. Sometimes that means having uncomfortable conversations about religion—or ending conversations that show disrespect. Bigotry has no place in the DoD. It harms cohesion and destroys the trust that soldiers need to rely on each other.
The term “Norse warrior” doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t see myself as a “warrior” in the Hollywood sense — just as a Pagan who is part of something greater. Media portrayals of Vikings have done our community few favors.
To me, a true Norse warrior loves, respects, and cherishes the Earth, the gods and goddesses, and other people. Being a warrior isn’t about “stacking bodies.” It’s about strength—mental, physical, and emotional—and about being able to share compassion and love without shame.
If I could meet Secretary Hegseth without consequence, I know my words wouldn’t reach him — but I would still say this:
Stop obsessing over grooming standards and start addressing the real issues—pay, mental health, housing conditions, and VA support. Twenty-two service members die by suicide every day. That’s not a “little issue.” That’s a national crisis.
And remember those buried at Arlington National Cemetery — they didn’t die so you could pit soldiers against civilians. They fought against fascism, not to enable it.
You call yourself a decorated major, but did you forget what leadership means? Leadership is about taking care of your people — every one of them.
When I see another warfighter, I don’t ask, “Can they do the job?” I ask, “What strength does their background bring to the mission?” The military hasn’t gone soft, Pete. You’ve gone cold.
At the end of the day, I remember my oath—to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
And I will continue to do just that.
The following letter comes from a 20-year-old U.S. Army recruit who asked to remain anonymous. He identifies as Ásatrú and shares his reflections on Secretary Hegseth’s recent remarks about “Nordic Pagans” in the military. His words appear here with only minor edits for clarity and flow.
I’m a new recruit in the U.S. Army, stationed near the Mississippi River. I don’t really follow politics and honestly don’t know enough to have strong opinions about it. I don’t have facial hair and don’t plan to grow a beard. I do wear a Thor’s Hammer, though. I’m still learning what Ásatrú really is and how to live my spiritual life. When I have time off, I’ll go to Pagan events just to listen and learn. I’ve got a few friends who are also Ásatrú, but we don’t really talk about it much, other than wearing our hammers. I also have tattoos, but most people just assume I’m really into the Avengers.
What I’ve learned so far about Ásatrú is that honor, self-reliance, and discipline matter a lot. But that also means treating people with dignity — helping them get better at what they do and helping them accept themselves.
When Hegseth said, “We don’t have a military full of Nordic Pagans,” I was on duty. I heard about it later. At first, I didn’t think he was talking about me or my friends. But I really don’t understand why he cares so much about how someone looks. Shouldn’t it be about how you act and how well you do your job? Sure, keep clean and wear deodorant—but beyond that, what’s the big deal?
If I ever met Hegseth, I guess I’d ask him why this matters so much to him. He’s about my dad’s age, and maybe that’s part of it — maybe he’s just from a different time. But still, why try to take away someone’s self-worth? Why call people “fat generals”? And why say women can’t fight? Maybe he should train with some of my female friends—they’d give him a wake-up call. Female soldiers don’t get any free passes in training, that’s for sure.
And why tell us that climate change isn’t real?
I’m not knowledgeable enough to argue all the points he makes. But I can say this: whatever he’s worried about, it’s not what we’re worried about here on base.
The following letter was submitted by a U.S. Army officer who declined a personal interview but agreed to share this written response instead.
I serve as an officer in a garrison in Florida, surrounded by colleagues and friends who support Secretary Hegseth and his recent decisions. I also want to be transparent: I voted for President Trump. At the time, I questioned the legitimacy of Vice President Harris’s nomination process.
I recognize that many of your readers will likely disagree with me — and perhaps even see me as part of the problem. That’s fair. I’m not writing to win agreement, but to be honest.
You asked first if I am Pagan. I am Heathen. In my small community, we don’t usually use the word “Pagan,” but I understand the broader sense in which you ask. Yes, I am part of that family of faiths. I live, however, in a largely Christian world — and in a Christian household, with my wife. I am Black, and she is Latina.
I wish I could sign my name to this, but I can’t. Doing so would end my career immediately. That should tell you something about the current climate.
What I saw in Secretary Hegseth’s speech reminded me of the 1969 film Patton — a spectacle of machismo and nostalgia for a kind of Army culture that the modern military has already recognized as obsolete. The difference is that Hegseth is no Patton.
And yes, I found his speech deeply insulting.
It was insulting because he seemed to call for a military that is a “boys-only club” of unthinking, chest-beating men. My tradition teaches the Nine Noble Virtues — courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance. These values align perfectly with military service. Not one of them is reserved for men alone.
Hegseth’s insistence that the military should “return to the male standard” in combat roles is not just archaic, it’s false. There has never been separate “male” and “female” standards in modern combat readiness. When women were admitted to combat roles, one unified standard was established. Either you can meet it, or you can’t. Many women I serve with manifest the Nine Noble Virtues daily. They are warriors: competent, disciplined, and courageous.
For Hegseth to diminish them reveals not strength but his own fears and insecurities. His remarks echo the misogyny of Christian nationalism, which seeks to relegate women to subservience under the guise of divine order. That is not the way of the Aesir, nor is it the way of honorable warriors.
We are a stronger military precisely because of our diversity—of background, of thought, of faith. To declare that such diversity is undesirable betrays a confusion between machismo and toughness. They are not the same. I have served under many tough leaders—men and women who demanded excellence without demeaning others. Hegseth’s vision is something else: it’s exclusionary, performative, and dangerous.
It is dystopian to imagine a military where facial-recognition software measures loyalty through applause, where those who fail to cheer are marked as disloyal. Yet that is the spirit his rhetoric invokes. The military belongs not to one man, nor to one ideology. Our oath is to the Constitution, not to personalities.
My greatest concern is the constant invocation of “the enemy within.” That kind of talk erodes trust, fractures units, and turns soldier against soldier. It is poison to any fighting force that depends on unity.
You asked what I would say if I had a private meeting with Secretary Hegseth. The truth is — I would say nothing. Honor demands that we speak only where words might reach a worthy ear. He has shown none.
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