Source: Fox News
Summary
The Pentagon is implementing a new battlefield-style assessment called the Joint Warfighting Evaluation (JWE) to determine promotions to general. Internal documents show each military service has developed its own version of the JWE, which will be used alongside existing evaluations starting in 2027. The assessment aims to test operational planning, decision-making, and leadership under simulated combat conditions. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pushed for the change to focus on combat readiness rather than career management. The JWE will vary by service, with some using online simulations and others in-person wargames. The Pentagon says the new system will not replace existing evaluations but add an additional metric for promotion boards.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Officers will solve problems in simulations.
Leaders will be judged on how they react to AI adversaries.
Each branch has its own test format.
The system is meant to feel like war, but it’s not war.
Author: Evan Null
Key Details
The new assessment is called the Joint Warfighting Evaluation (JWE), and it will be used starting in 2027.
The Pentagon says it will supplement existing performance evaluations.
Each military service has developed its own version of the JWE.
The Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Marine Corps all have different formats.
The assessments range from online tests to in-person wargames.
Implementation Plans
The Army will test around 900 colonels with a remote written assessment and a digital wargame.
The Air Force will test 1,330 colonels with a two-hour online analysis test and a one-hour simulation.
The Space Force will use the same format for about 125 officers.
The Navy will test 308 captains with a three-hour written assessment and a two- to three-hour wargame.
The Marine Corps will use an eight-hour remote evaluation for up to 175 colonels.
Goals and Concerns
The JWE aims to measure how well officers can solve military problems in command.
Stu Scheller, a senior Pentagon adviser, said the current system rewards career navigation, not battlefield readiness.
The Pentagon says the JWE is not a replacement for existing evaluations.
How much weight the JWE will have on promotions is still being decided.
The first real test will occur in 2027, with results studied before future changes.
Broader Changes
The JWE is part of a larger overhaul of military promotions under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth has pushed for faster promotion of top performers and quicker removal of poor performers.
He has also ordered a reduction in four-star and general officer positions.
Hegseth has taken a more direct role in deciding who receives a star.
His interventions have drawn criticism from some lawmakers and military officers.
Political Context
The changes come amid significant turnover at the top of the military.
Trump and Hegseth have removed or replaced several senior leaders.
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti were replaced.
Hegseth also forced out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George before his term ended.
The Pentagon claims promotions under Hegseth will be based on merit.
