U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that service members aged 30 and older must undergo yearly testosterone deficiency screenings [1], [2].

The initiative aims to ensure that soldiers are not limited by undiagnosed hormonal deficiencies. By identifying these issues, the Department of Defense seeks to improve overall force readiness and restore what Hegseth described as a warrior culture [2], [3].

Under the new mandate, the screening process will occur once per year [2]. While the tests are required for those 30 and older [1], any treatment resulting from the screenings will remain voluntary [1]. Service members under the age of 30 are not required to participate but may opt-in to the screening process if they choose [2].

Hegseth framed the policy as a matter of providing high-quality medical support to the troops. "We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation," Hegseth said [2].

The program focuses on the biological optimization of the force, a move that links medical health directly to combat effectiveness. The Department of Defense is implementing these measures to ensure that physical and mental readiness is not compromised by treatable medical conditions [2], [3].

“Service members aged 30 and older must undergo yearly testosterone deficiency screenings.”

This policy represents a shift toward proactive hormonal monitoring as a component of military readiness. By institutionalizing testosterone screening, the Department of Defense is treating hormonal health as a performance metric similar to physical fitness standards, signaling a broader effort to optimize the biological capabilities of the force.