‘It’s great to be here’: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits to Fort Benning

FORT BENNING, Ga. (WRBL) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had a packed itinerary for his visit to Fort Benning.

Thursday morning, he spoke to new lieutenants from class 501-25 at their graduation from Officer Candidate School.

“It is great to be here at Fort Benning,” Hegseth said, pausing briefly.  “And it is Fort Benning.”

The Georgia installation was officially redesignated in a ceremony in April, named for Fred Benning, a WWI soldier and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Before that, it spent approximately two years bearing the name of Hal and Julia Moore. The Benning name was originally removed due to its namesake’s association with the Confederacy.  

Hegseth’s visit to the Georgia installation comes at a time when, as he said, the Army is seeking to revive the warrior ethos and improve military capabilities.

One of the 77 newly commissioned lieutenants spoke about the secretary of defense’s presence at her graduation.

“I think it’s very motivating for all of us as new officers about to enter the force,” said Yujia Liu, a prior-service soldier from California who is branching logistics with the hope of becoming an explosive ordinance disposal officer.

Liu continued, “On a personal level, it’s very memorable. I will always be able to tell other people that at my commissioning ceremony, the [secretary of defense] was there.”

As Hegseth spoke to the now-lieutenants during the ceremony, he assured them that President Donald Trump is looking out for American soldiers.

“He has your back,” Hegseth said. “We have your back.”

The U.S. Secretary of Defense also told graduates there would be “no more DEI” and “no more trans madness,” in the Army. Hegseth emphasized the moves as an effort to, in his own words, “get the garbage out” and uphold standards within the ranks.

Hegseth’s visit also comes as the U.S. military pursues a mission of “drone dominance.” Fort Benning units, like the 75^th Ranger Regiment, are becoming some of the frontrunners for that training and development.

Hegseth made a trip to one of the installation’s ranges to observe drone operation demonstrations, including drop technology and explosive capabilities. His final stop was an airborne demonstration outside Fort Benning’s jump towers.  

Before he left post, the secretary of defense reflected on his months of training at Fort Benning.

“It’s a little bit of a coming home,” Hegseth said. “I only did four months here…but to just see the buildings, see the troops, see myself with that gold bar here again, it reminds you that you’re just one small piece.”