US Military to Require Testosterone Testing for Annual Checkups of Personnel Aged 30 and Above, Defense Secretary Aims to Maintain Combat Readiness

(CNA, Washington, 15th -综合 international news) The United States Department of War announced today that service members aged 30 and above should undergo 'testosterone level' testing during their annual health examinations, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeks to ensure military personnel maintain their physical combat capabilities.

In a video posted on the X platform, Hegseth stated, 'Science clearly shows that as people age, testosterone levels in the human body often naturally decline.'

He added, 'This is not about artificial enhancement, but about restoring and optimizing your natural functions, protecting long-term health, and ensuring you have the physiological foundation necessary to sustain combat effectiveness.'

Text in the upper left corner of the video reads: 'The High-T Department of War.' The term 'High-T' originates from testosterone (Testosterone, abbreviated as T); in internet culture, it often describes individuals or groups as 'masculine, manly, energetic, and assertively dominant.'

Hegseth stated that if treatment is deemed necessary, the decision to undergo therapy will be made voluntarily by the individual service member. He also noted that personnel under 30 may voluntarily request the test if they wish.

Throughout his remarks, Hegseth referred to military personnel using gender-neutral terms such as 'warfighters' and 'warriors,' without explicitly stating whether this testing and treatment policy applies to female service members; medically, women's testosterone levels also naturally decline with age.

According to AFP, when the media requested further clarification, the Pentagon responded: 'Currently, there is no additional information beyond the Secretary's video.' (Compiled by: Chi Chin-Ling) 1150716

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