NEW DELHI: US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced a new annual testosterone screening programme for military personnel aged 30 and above, saying the initiative is aimed at ensuring troops can perform at their "absolute best."
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The screening will become part of the military's mandatory annual medical examinations for service members aged 30 and older. Personnel below 30 will be allowed to volunteer for testing.
In a video shared on social media, Hegseth said testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary. "The screenings are about making sure our troops are operating at their 'absolute best'," he said.
Although Hegseth referred broadly to "troops," the announcement appeared to focus on male service members. The Pentagon chief said the programme is intended to keep troops "strong, resilient and capable," adding that modern battlefields demand "maximum psychological and mental readiness."
