When Accountability Came Back: What Pete Hegseth’s Speech Meant for Montana Veterans

There isn’t anything much more defeating than building something meaningful, passing it on, and then having to watch as it falls apart. Veterans know that feeling better than anyone. They built something strong: a mission, a standard, a legacy. They trusted that when it was handed off, it would be protected. But over time, cracks appeared. Standards shifted. The mission blurred.

As Secretary Pete Hegseth said in his September 30 address to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, “Standards must be uniform, gender neutral, and high. If not, they’re not standards — they’re just suggestions. Suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.”

That message of rebuilding, refocusing, and bringing accountability back is what Hegseth’s speech represented. It was about restoring purpose and reminding everyone what the military is meant to be: disciplined, united, and focused on the mission above all else.

For years, standards have flip-flopped. One rule for some, another for others. It hasn’t helped anyone, not the mission, not the military, and certainly not the morale of those still carrying the weight of service. The constant shifting sent the message that discipline and effort no longer mattered. That’s why Hegseth’s speech mattered so deeply.

It reminded veterans that what they fought for still means something. It reminded current service members that leadership can still be strong and direct. And it reminded the rest of the country that our military’s foundation of accountability, unity, and mission-first focus is worth protecting.

What Others Are Seeing

Those who work closely with veterans are noticing the impact too. Andrew Balsam, MS, LCPC, of Balsam Counseling & Consulting PC — a contracted Community Care outpatient therapist who specializes in treating veterans, first responders, and high-stress professionals across Montana — agrees that Hegseth’s speech was beneficial for the morale of our nation’s veterans, explaining that the military “is, across the board, designed and purposed to defend the country,” and that hearing Secretary Hegseth “express a return to that mission and those virtues helps warriors value their sacrifice, their service, and those wounds, visible and invisible, as they and their families carry them forward for the rest of their lives.”

When asked if she felt that Secretary Hegseth’s address had a positive impact on the morale of veterans, Cait Corrigan, National Ambassador for Veterans for America First and American Ambassador to the Montana Veterans Association, said, “Yes, veterans see our country is moving in the right direction. Generally speaking, veterans are feeling more hopeful and content. The collective actions of this administration, including renaming it the Department of War (formerly the DoD), are putting us on offense again instead of defense.”

Congressman Troy Downing also shared his thoughts, saying, “Perhaps Secretary Hegseth said it best himself: ‘the era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now.’ I couldn’t agree more. Leadership starts at the top, and standards should apply to every member of America’s armed forces, especially those tasked with commanding our warfighters. I know many of my fellow veterans share this sentiment and are encouraged by the culture shift at the Department of War away from woke and back in the direction of the ‘warrior ethos.’ Looking forward, I’m hopeful that this reinvigoration we’re seeing at the DOW will extend to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the dedicated personnel charged with caring for those who no longer wear the uniform, but who devoted their lives to upholding the standards that made the United States military the world’s premier fighting force.”

From a Veteran’s Spouse

As the spouse of a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand how tone and leadership affect morale at home. Our family carries the heavy burdens of American sacrifice, both visible and invisible. I, for one, was happy to hear and see Secretary Hegseth setting the tone back to where it should be. His words weren’t just about the military; they were about restoring pride, purpose, and direction. And that matters to the families who live with the ripple effects of service every day.

My hope is that Hegseth’s example sets a new standard not just within the DoD but across the institutions that serve veterans. If accountability and mission-first leadership can take root again at the top, maybe it can finally trickle down to the VA, a department long overdue for change. Veterans have earned more than gratitude. They’ve earned competence, consistency, and care that match the standard they once upheld in uniform.

For the veterans I know, that’s what this moment represents. Not spectacle. Just the long-overdue return of accountability, and with it, a renewed sense of belief that what they built, protected, and sacrificed for is still being carried forward with integrity. The mission isn’t over; the standard still matters, and so do they.