U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the Department of Defense will begin annual testosterone screenings for certain service members.
The policy shifts the Pentagon's approach to troop health by linking hormone levels directly to military performance and operational capacity. By identifying low testosterone early, the department aims to ensure that personnel maintain peak physical and mental condition during deployment.
Under the new directive, annual testosterone screenings will be required for all service members aged 30 and older [1]. The initiative targets a specific demographic of the force to identify hormonal declines that may impact strength, mood, and cognitive function.
For those who test below established thresholds, the Department of Defense will offer testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) [2]. This medical intervention is presented as an optional resource for personnel to restore their hormone levels to optimal ranges.
Hegseth said the effort is designed to keep U.S. troops on the “leading edge of lethality” [3]. He said the medical screenings are a necessary component of modern combat readiness, ensuring that the physical capabilities of the force are not diminished by age-related hormonal drops.
The rollout of these tests will be integrated into the existing medical readiness cycles of the U.S. military. This ensures that the screenings occur as part of the standard health evaluations that service members already undergo annually.
While the screenings are mandatory for the specified age group, the subsequent treatment remains a choice for the individual service member [2]. The Pentagon has not yet released the specific clinical thresholds that will trigger the recommendation for replacement therapy.
“Annual testosterone screenings will be required for service members aged 30 and older.”
This policy represents a shift toward optimizing biological performance as a metric of military readiness. By institutionalizing hormone screening, the Department of Defense is treating testosterone levels as a critical component of a soldier's equipment and health, similar to fitness standards or vaccinations, to maintain a competitive edge in physical combat capabilities.
