Secretary Pete Hegseth Eliminates New Age Army Spiritual Fitness Guide Restoring Faith Based Military Chaplaincy

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a significant overhaul of the military Chaplain Corps, eliminating the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide and pledging to restore chaplains to their traditional role as ministers rather than therapists promoting secular humanism.

Hegseth announced the initiative Tuesday in a video message highlighting the historical role of chaplains established by George Washington in 1775 as one of his first actions as general of the Continental Army. Quoting Washington's general orders stating "the blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger," Hegseth argued chaplains served as the spiritual and moral backbone of forces for nearly 250 years.

However, Hegseth contended that in recent decades, as part of an ongoing war on warriors, the corps has been degraded. He specifically referenced the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide, a 112 page document released in August 2025 that mentions God once, feelings 11 times, and playfulness nine times while containing zero mentions of virtue.

The guide, described on the Army's website as a groundbreaking resource equipping soldiers to build inner strength regardless of religious beliefs, emphasizes diverse sources of purpose including God, family, patriotism, or personal growth. A Christian Post review confirmed the document contains a single reference to God and zero references to Christianity.

New Age terms like consciousness appear 43 times and mindfulness appears 15 times, more frequently than religious references. The words Jewish and Islam each appear once.

Hegseth described the guide as relying on New Age notions defining a soldier's spirit as consciousness, creativity, and connection, accusing it of alienating religious troops who make up approximately 82 percent of active military members by pushing secular humanism.

"In an atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism, chaplains have been minimized, viewed by many as therapists instead of ministers," Hegseth said. "Faith and virtue were traded for self help and self care."

Calling the document unacceptable and unserious, Hegseth signed a directive eliminating use of the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide effective immediately, stating these types of training materials have no place in the War Department.

The Chaplain Corps has approximately 1,300 active duty Army chaplains representing five major faith groups and over 120 denominations.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Eighty two percent of troops are religious. The Army gave them mindfulness instead of ministry.

Hegseth restored what George Washington established: chaplains who minister to souls, not therapists peddling self care.

Chaplains exist to point soldiers toward God during the worst moments humans experience. Not to facilitate playfulness or creativity exercises.

This is what draining the swamp looks like in practice: eliminating woke materials and restoring actual purpose.

The military needs ministers. It got that back today.

TAKE ACTION

Support Secretary Hegseth: Contact the Department of Defense expressing support for restoring faith based chaplaincy and eliminating secular spiritual fitness materials.

Pray for Military Chaplains: Pray that chaplains will boldly proclaim the Gospel, minister to troops authentically, and resist pressure to become therapists instead of ministers.

Contact Your Representatives: Tell them you support Secretary Hegseth's elimination of New Age materials from military training and restoration of traditional chaplain roles.

Support Military Ministry: Officers' Christian Fellowship Website: https://www.ocfusa.org Supports Christian military personnel

Start a Conversation: Ask veterans and active duty personnel: "Do you want chaplains who preach the Gospel or therapists who talk about mindfulness? Which one helps in combat?"

Oppose DEI in Military: Support continued elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that prioritize ideology over military readiness and spiritual authenticity.