Pentagon Implements New Assessment for General Promotions

The Pentagon is introducing significant changes to the process of promoting military officers to generals. A new assessment known as the Joint Warfighting Evaluation (JWE) is being developed to assess senior officers on their ability to address complex military challenges. This shift represents the most substantial modification in decades to the promotion system for all military branches.

New Evaluation Procedure

The evaluation, as detailed in documents acquired by Fox News Digital, is a standardized test that evaluates skills such as operational planning, decision-making, and leadership in simulated combat scenarios. This new assessment will work alongside existing performance reviews and become a consideration for promotion boards starting in the fiscal year 2027.

The initiative stems from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. He seeks to revamp military assessments to pinpoint officers capable of excelling in combat conditions.

“People figure out they don’t have to be the best at their job, they have to be the best at making sure their boss thinks they’re the best,” said Stu Scheller, the senior Pentagon adviser leading this initiative.

Current Evaluation Methods and the New Approach

Currently, military officers are evaluated based on reports from their superiors, which heavily influence promotion decisions. While these performance reports will still be a primary factor, the JWE will add another layer of evaluation. It aims to judge how effectively an officer can solve prospective battlefield problems.

Each military branch will implement its version of the JWE. They range from online simulations involving artificial intelligence to in-person war games. These exercises vary significantly between branches, with different formats tailored to their needs.

The Army plans to subject about 900 colonels to a remote written test and a digital wargame. In contrast, the Air Force has a two-hour online test followed by a simulation. Similarly, the Space Force will apply this format to roughly 125 officers.

The Navy demands a more rigorous assessment. Roughly 308 captains will partake in a written test and a subsequent in-person wargame at the Naval War College. Lastly, the Marine Corps plans a lengthy eight-hour evaluation combining written assessments with situational judgment tests.

Challenges and Adaptations

Scheller underscores that replicating the stress of real combat is challenging. The Pentagon aims to refine these assessments with time and experience.

“No one task will perfectly replicate war,” observed Scheller.

The JWE will not replace the current promotion system. It will instead complement it by offering supplemental data points for consideration. The weight of these data points in decision-making remains undecided, pending results from initial tests.

Future Testing and Adjustments

Looking forward, the first assessments for eligible colonels, termed O-6s, will take place between February and June 2027. Promotion boards for O-7s will convene from July to September that year. The Pentagon plans to analyze outcomes from this cycle to determine the JWE’s influence on promotions and to refine the evaluation method as needed.

This new evaluation is part of Pete Hegseth’s broader changes to military leadership selection and retention. He intends to accelerate promotions for top performers, dismiss underachievers, and transform evaluations into meaningful assessments rather than formalities.

Hegseth is also reducing the number of senior officers, aiming for a 20% cut in active-duty four-star positions and a 10% reduction in general and flag officer roles. He has also intervened directly in promotion decisions, basing promotions more firmly on merit, which has stirred controversy.

Recent changes coincide with significant turnover in military leadership roles. Many senior leaders have been replaced under the current administration, as part of Hegseth’s and the administration’s reform strategies.