Pentagon to Introduce New Evaluation for Promotions to General and Admiral

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the Pentagon will introduce a new assessment, called the "Joint Warfighter Evaluation," for officers being considered for promotion to general or admiral, according to a report by Turkey's Anadolu Agency.

The evaluation is set to apply this year to eligible Army, Air Force and Marine Corps colonels as well as Navy captains, the ranks that typically precede promotion to one-star general or admiral. The report did not detail the specific criteria or testing format the new evaluation will use.

Part of Broader Pentagon Changes

The announcement is the latest in a series of changes Hegseth has made to military personnel policy since taking office. Defense officials under the current administration have repeatedly said they intend to raise the standards for senior officer promotions, framing the moves as an effort to prioritize battlefield readiness and leadership quality among top brass.

Promotions to general and admiral in the U.S. armed forces have traditionally been determined through a mix of performance evaluations, professional military education records, and board reviews before requiring Senate confirmation. It remains unclear from the available reporting how the new Joint Warfighter Evaluation will fit alongside or replace elements of that existing process.

Anadolu Agency's report did not include reaction from military associations or lawmakers, and the Pentagon has not published detailed public guidance on the new evaluation beyond Hegseth's announcement. Further specifics, including timing and scoring methods, are expected to be released as the initiative is implemented later this year.