Failure to meet “mission requirements” led to some service members deployed to Illinois being replaced, earning support from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Standards are back …”
Beyond the fog of leftist legal battles and soapbox speeches claiming self-styled sanctuary jurisdictions did not require federal involvement to restore law and order, a viral photo sparked both ridicule and concern. The specifics of who and why had not been confirmed by the Texas Military Department, but it was verified that seven members of the Texas National Guard had been replaced.
A statement from a TMD spokesperson explained, “During the pre-mission validation process, the Texas National Guard identified and replaced seven service members who did not meet mission requirements. These service members were returned to their home station.”
“The Texas National Guard echoes Secretary Hegseth’s message to the force: ‘Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear,'” the statement continued.
New: The Texas Military Department confirms that 7 troops sent to Illinois were replaced because they did not meet mission requirements pic.twitter.com/L9Nar2nQZS
— Aarón Torres (@AaronTorres_) October 14, 2025
While fitness standards are assessed annually and then again before deployment, a TMD spokesperson detailed to Task & Purpose that the expediency of the orders sending hundreds of service members to Chicago had resulted in some being sent who otherwise would not have been initially cleared.
“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission,” explained the spokesperson. “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.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) fumed over the deployment, claiming, “No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate,” as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had lauded the Lone Star State’s military, posting to X about the 60-day mission, “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it. No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard. They defend our country with pride. America must also know that Texas still has thousands of National Guard assisting with Border security.”
Days later, corporate media outlets circulated an image of some of the service members outside of Chicago that ultimately went viral, as many wondered at the fitness levels of those pictured.
Members of the Texas National Guard have arrived in Illinois, according to sources familiar with their whereabouts and video taken of them at an Army Reserve training facility in a Chicago suburb.
Read more: https://t.co/AkmU3diD97 pic.twitter.com/chTjQ1TrFY
— ABC News (@ABC) October 7, 2025
As it happens, the deployment took place within a week of Hegseth confronting “fat generals” during a speech to military leaders, in which he announced the measures that would be taken to maintain standards in the military, regardless of rank.
“It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon,” the secretary remarked. “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are. Whether you are an airborne ranger or a chair-borne ranger, a brand new private or a four-star general, you need to meet your height and weight standards and pass your PT test.”
Reacting directly to the replacement of some Texas National Guard members, Hegseth posted on X, “Standards are back at the @DeptofWar.”
Standards are back at The @DeptofWar. pic.twitter.com/f2YScwhmMI
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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