Ever since Pete Hegseth moved from the Fox & Friends curvy couch to the E-ring of the Pentagon, people have been scrambling to figure out his actual military credentials. You've probably seen the headlines. Some folks talk like he was a high-ranking general, while others act like he barely made it through boot camp. Honestly, the reality is somewhere right in the middle, and it's a bit more nuanced than a simple title on a resume.
Pete Hegseth finished his military service at the rank of Major. That is the short answer. But if you’re looking for the "how" and "why" behind that rank, there is a whole lot of National Guard history to unpack. He wasn't career active duty, and he wasn't a "full bird" Colonel. He was a "field grade" officer who spent the better part of two decades moving between the civilian world and various deployments.
The Path to Major: From Princeton to Baghdad
Hegseth’s military story didn't start in a traditional way. He was a Princeton guy, graduating in 2003. Instead of heading straight to Wall Street (though he did a brief stint at Bear Stearns), he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Army ROTC program. This was right as the Global War on Terror was hitting its peak.
His first real taste of the uniform wasn't in a desert, though. In 2004, he was sent to Guantánamo Bay. He served as an infantry platoon leader there, guarding detainees. It’s not the most "glamorous" deployment in the eyes of some, but it's where he earned his first Army Commendation Medal.
Shortly after that, he stepped up for the big one: Iraq. By then, he was a First Lieutenant. He served in Baghdad and Samarra with the 101st Airborne Division—specifically the 3rd Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment. This is where he earned his first Bronze Star and his Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). For those who don't know, the CIB is a big deal in the Army; you don't get it unless you've been personally present and under fire while engaged in active ground combat.
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Why the "Major" Rank Matters
By the time he volunteered for Afghanistan in 2012, he had reached the rank of Captain. In Kabul, he wasn't leading a platoon through the mountains; he was actually a senior counterinsurgency instructor. Basically, he was teaching other soldiers how to fight that specific kind of war.
It wasn't until 2015 that he officially became a Major.
In the Army, a Major is the first "field grade" officer rank. It’s a transition point. You’re no longer just "one of the guys" leading a small team; you’re expected to understand the bigger picture of battalion and brigade operations. Hegseth eventually moved into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and had a stint with the D.C. National Guard before officially hanging up the uniform in early 2024.
Breaking Down the Decorations
People love to argue about medals. It's just what we do. Hegseth walked away with a pretty stacked chest, including:
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- Two Bronze Star Medals: These were for meritorious service, not necessarily for a single act of "valor" like jumping on a grenade. It means he did a high-level job under combat conditions over a long period.
- Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB): As mentioned, this is the "I was there" badge for infantrymen.
- Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB): This is for proficiency in testing—showing you know your weapon systems and tactics inside and out.
- Army Commendation Medals (x2): Standard but solid recognition for good service.
Some critics call these "participation trophies" for officers. That’s a bit harsh. While it's true that officers often get Bronze Stars for successful tours, you still have to be in a combat zone doing the work to get them.
The Secretary of War Shift
Here is something wild. Since January 2025, Hegseth has been serving as the 29th Secretary of Defense. But if you look at official documents from late 2025, you’ll notice the name changed. Under the current administration, the Department of Defense was renamed the Department of War on September 5, 2025.
So, the former Major is now the "Secretary of War." It’s a throwback title that definitely fits the "warrior culture" vibe he’s been pushing at the Pentagon. He’s been pretty vocal about cutting the "fat" in the bureaucracy. He famously noted that we won World War II with only seven four-star generals, while today we have over 40.
What This Means for the Pentagon Today
So, does being a Major qualify you to run the entire military? That was the big debate during his confirmation. Most previous Secretaries of Defense were either career politicians, high-level CEOs, or retired four-star generals (who had to get a special waiver).
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Hegseth is a "change agent." His rank as a Major gives him a "tactical" perspective—meaning he looks at things from the viewpoint of the guys on the ground, not just the folks in the air-conditioned offices in D.C. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends entirely on who you ask.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Military News
If you’re trying to keep up with the changes at the Department of War, keep these points in mind:
- Check the "Component": Hegseth was National Guard, not Active Duty. Guard members often have "patchy" timelines because they move in and out of civilian life.
- Look for the CIB: When evaluating a veteran's "combat" status, the Combat Infantryman Badge is the gold standard for knowing if they actually saw the "sharp end" of the spear.
- Monitor the Department of War Reorg: Watch for further shifts in how the Pentagon handles leadership. The push for "meritocracy" over "bureaucracy" is the current theme, and it's driving a lot of the policy coming out of the Secretary’s office.
Ultimately, Pete Hegseth's rank of Major is exactly what he brings to the table: the experience of a mid-level officer who saw the war from the dirt, rather than from a satellite feed.