Secretary of War Pete Hegseth unveiled six major strategic initiatives at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2026, briefing active-duty E-6s and O-3s directly on reforms the Department says will govern its direction for years to come.
Speaking to tactical-level officers and non-commissioned officers rather than through traditional Pentagon channels, Hegseth set out a framework establishing the Autonomous Warfare Command, creating a new Corps of Cadets, launching the "FORTRESS" readiness program, initiating the Next Great American Base project, standing up the Office of Religious Affairs and kicking off Project Meridian.
The Autonomous Warfare Command is described as the fastest peacetime operational shift in modern military history, designed to scale autonomous warfare across the Joint Force as a 4-star functional combatant command by October 1, 2027. Building on the Drone Dominance program, which the Department says has delivered thousands of robotic systems to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth directed DRPM UxS to lead Project Agincourt. He appointed Owen West, the current Director of DIU, and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser, the first enlisted SEAL to graduate from Navy Test Pilot School, to direct DRPM UxS under a CEO-COO partnership.
America's Corps of Cadets partners with Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University and Hillsdale College to create additional full-time Corps of Cadets programs. Each participating school is designated a "Distinguished Military College" and receives "Honor School" status, which provides priority in officer commissioning.
FORTRESS America (Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability) is described as the Department's national insurance policy for the homeland. It aims to ensure every major U.S. military installation generates its own independent power, brings critical supply chains home, builds deep strategic reserves, hardens installations against cyber intrusion, sabotage and drones, and secures satellites and spectrum.
The Next Great American Base project will build a power projection platform from the ground up across hundreds of thousands of acres, engineered to operate off the commercial grid with independent power generation, autonomous systems and advanced air defenses. A transparent, merit-based competition will invite governors and adjutants general to pitch plans, with the winning state offering the best package of land and support.
The Office of Religious Affairs will be a direct-report office to the Secretary charged with driving Department-wide policy and resource advocacy. The Department said the office will not compel religious participation, favor one faith, or diminish the rights of personnel of any faith or lack thereof.
Project Meridian, commissioned to identify capabilities for technological dominance on the next-generation battlefield, will be co-directed by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich, facilitated by Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael. It is to be completed within 120 days, culminating in an unclassified public report with a classified annex.