Pete Hegseth military service began with his 2003 commission as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University. His record includes deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, along with service in the Washington, D.C., National Guard. As of October 5, 2026, the Department of Defense identifies Hegseth as the 29th Secretary of Defense and notes his Army National Guard background, overseas deployments, and military awards.
Hegseth’s military career is significant because he served both overseas and in domestic National Guard missions before becoming the nation’s senior civilian defense official. His public military record spans multiple periods of service and includes combat-related assignments, leadership roles, and specialized duties.
The official record also shows that Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2003 to 2014 and again from 2019 to 2021. During those years, he held several positions and deployed three times, according to his written responses to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
When did Pete Hegseth join the military?
Hegseth entered military service after graduating from Princeton University in 2003. He completed the university’s ROTC program and received his commission as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard.
The Defense Department confirms that he was commissioned after graduating from Princeton and subsequently participated in active-duty deployments. His military background was centered on the Army National Guard rather than a career as an active-duty Army officer.
His early military career came during the period when the United States was conducting operations connected to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and maintaining military operations at Guantánamo Bay.
Hegseth’s own Senate confirmation materials provide a concise description of his service. He told senators that he served 14 years in the Army National Guard and completed three Army deployments.
Those deployments took him to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; Samarra, Iraq; and Kabul, Afghanistan. He described serving as a platoon leader in Guantánamo, as a platoon leader and assistant civil-military operations officer in Iraq, and as a senior counterinsurgency instructor in Afghanistan.
Pete Hegseth military service in Guantánamo Bay
One of Hegseth’s earliest overseas assignments took him to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
There, he served as an infantry platoon leader during his National Guard deployment. The assignment placed him in a military environment associated with the detention operations at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay.
The Defense Department confirms Guantánamo Bay as one of his three major overseas deployments. Hegseth has also described this assignment during his Senate testimony and in remarks after becoming defense secretary.
His service in Cuba also appears in the official description of his military awards. The White House states that Hegseth received an Army Commendation Medal and the Expert Infantryman Badge for his time in Cuba.
The Guantánamo assignment therefore represents an important early stage of his military career. It was followed by his deployment to Iraq, where his duties became more directly connected to combat operations.
Hegseth’s Iraq deployment
Hegseth later deployed to Iraq, where he served with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
His responsibilities included serving as an infantry platoon leader in Baghdad and later working as a civil-military operations officer in Samarra. The White House identifies Baghdad and Samarra as locations connected to his Iraq deployment.
His Senate confirmation materials provide a slightly broader description, stating that he served as a platoon leader and assistant civil-military operations officer in Samarra.
The Iraq deployment is particularly important when examining his military record because it resulted in several of his most prominent military decorations.
According to the White House, Hegseth received a Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and a second Army Commendation Medal for his time in Iraq.
The Combat Infantryman Badge is associated with infantry personnel who meet the requirements for service in active ground combat. Its presence in Hegseth’s official military biography is one reason his public record is generally described as that of an Army combat veteran.
The Department of Defense likewise describes Hegseth as an Army combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hegseth’s Afghanistan deployment
Hegseth’s third major overseas deployment took him to Afghanistan.
He served with the Minnesota Army National Guard and worked in Kabul as a senior counterinsurgency instructor. His role differed from his earlier platoon leadership assignments because it focused heavily on training and instruction.
The Senate Armed Services Committee records Hegseth’s description of this deployment as service in Kabul as a senior counterinsurgency instructor. The Defense Department also confirms Afghanistan as one of his active-duty deployments.
His Afghanistan service produced another major military decoration.
The White House states that Hegseth received a second Bronze Star Medal and a Joint Commendation Medal for his time in Afghanistan.
His Afghanistan assignment also expanded his military experience beyond direct infantry leadership. As an instructor, he worked in a role connected to counterinsurgency training, giving him experience with military education and operational doctrine.
That combination of combat-related service and training responsibilities became a central part of the military background he later presented during his nomination to lead the Defense Department.
What military awards did Pete Hegseth receive?
Hegseth’s official military biography lists several awards and badges from his National Guard service.
The Defense Department and White House identify the following honors:
| Military award or badge | Officially documented connection |
|---|---|
| Bronze Star Medal | Iraq service |
| Bronze Star Medal | Afghanistan service |
| Joint Commendation Medal | Afghanistan service |
| Army Commendation Medal | Guantánamo Bay service |
| Army Commendation Medal | Iraq service |
| Combat Infantryman Badge | Iraq service |
| Expert Infantryman Badge | Guantánamo Bay service |
The Defense Department’s historical office confirms that Hegseth received two Bronze Star Medals, a Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge.
These awards are part of the official biographical record and help document the range of duties he performed during his military career.
It is important to distinguish the Bronze Star Medal from the Combat Infantryman Badge. They are separate military recognitions with different eligibility requirements. The official record identifies both among Hegseth’s decorations and badges.
How long did Hegseth serve in the Army National Guard?
The Defense Department’s historical records list Hegseth’s Army National Guard service in two periods: 2003–2014 and 2019–2021.
During his Senate confirmation process, Hegseth described his military experience as 14 years in the United States Army National Guard.
The two official descriptions should be understood together. The Defense Department’s leadership chronology provides the service-period dates, while Hegseth’s own Senate response gives his characterization of the total length of his National Guard service.
His record was not a continuous period of overseas deployment. Instead, it included periods of military duty, deployments, National Guard assignments and time away from uniform while pursuing civilian work.
That distinction matters when describing his military background accurately. His three overseas deployments were a portion of a broader National Guard career.
Hegseth’s Washington, D.C., National Guard service
Hegseth later joined the Washington, D.C., Army National Guard.
The D.C. National Guard has confirmed that he joined the organization on June 6, 2019, and remained a member until March 31, 2021. The Guard described him as an M-Day traditional drilling service member who was available for duty when required.
His Washington service included a domestic mission during unrest in the nation’s capital in 2020.
Hegseth later testified before the Senate that he was serving with the D.C. National Guard during the events around Lafayette Square in June 2020. He described carrying a riot shield while performing his duties.
The Army has also reported that Hegseth later recalled his 2020 National Guard duty in Washington when he visited mobilized Guardsmen at the D.C. Armory in August 2025. During that visit, he said the last time he had been inside the armory was while serving as an Army major during the 2020 civil unrest.
This portion of his record shows that his National Guard experience was not limited to overseas deployments. It also included domestic missions in the nation’s capital.
What rank did Pete Hegseth reach?
Hegseth served as an officer in the Army National Guard and reached the rank of major.
His military career included leadership responsibilities as an infantry platoon leader as well as staff and training assignments. The Defense Department describes him as an infantry officer and former Army National Guard officer.
His experience was therefore concentrated in the officer corps, with assignments ranging from platoon leadership to civil-military operations and counterinsurgency instruction.
The record also demonstrates that his military experience was built primarily through the National Guard rather than through a conventional uninterrupted active-duty career.
Was Pete Hegseth a combat veteran?
Yes. Official Defense Department biographies describe Hegseth as an Army combat veteran.
His service included deployment to Iraq, where the official record lists his Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. He also deployed to Afghanistan, where he served as a senior counterinsurgency instructor and received another Bronze Star Medal and a Joint Commendation Medal.
The Defense Department has consistently included his combat-veteran background in his official biography.
His own Senate confirmation testimony also emphasized that he had led in combat and had experience with the challenges faced by U.S. service members.
Did Hegseth continue military service after 2021?
The official Defense Department chronology lists his Army National Guard service through 2021, with the second period ending that year.
His subsequent role has been civilian rather than a continuation of his National Guard service.
President Donald Trump nominated Hegseth to become secretary of defense in January 2025, and Hegseth was sworn in as the 29th secretary of defense on January 25, 2025.
In September 2025, an executive order authorized the secretary of defense to use the secondary title “Secretary of War.” The Defense Department’s historical office currently lists Hegseth under that secondary title while continuing to identify him as the 29th Secretary of Defense.
That current government position should not be confused with active-duty military service. The secretary of defense is a civilian Cabinet official, even though the position oversees the Department of Defense and works closely with the U.S. military.
How Hegseth’s military record is reflected in his current role
Hegseth’s military background remains a recurring part of his public role at the Pentagon.
In 2026, he has appeared at military events, spoken to service members and addressed Army personnel about readiness, training and leadership.
In May 2026, Hegseth addressed graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Army described him as a former Soldier who shared guidance about training, discipline, leadership and readiness.
His military background has also featured in his interactions with National Guard personnel.
In February 2026, Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to more than 100 National Guard personnel from nine states during a ceremony at the Washington Monument.
These appearances do not represent a return to his former Guard status. Instead, they reflect his responsibilities as the senior civilian leader of the U.S. defense establishment.
Pete Hegseth military service timeline
The major milestones in Hegseth’s military record can be summarized as follows:
- 2003: Commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University.
- Early overseas service: Deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as an infantry platoon leader.
- Iraq deployment: Served in Baghdad and Samarra in infantry and civil-military operations roles.
- Afghanistan deployment: Served in Kabul as a senior counterinsurgency instructor with the Minnesota Army National Guard.
- 2003–2014: First documented period of Army National Guard service.
- 2019: Joined the Washington, D.C., Army National Guard.
- 2020: Served on a D.C. National Guard mission during civil unrest in Washington.
- March 2021: D.C. National Guard records show his membership ended March 31.
- January 2025: Sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Defense.
- 2026: Continues serving as the nation’s senior civilian defense official, with the Defense Department currently using the secondary title “Secretary of War.”
Why Hegseth’s military record matters
Hegseth’s military record provides the foundation for his description of himself as an Army combat veteran and former National Guard officer.
His experience covered three overseas deployments and several different types of military duties. Those duties included infantry leadership, civil-military operations, counterinsurgency instruction and National Guard assignments in the United States.
The record is also notable for the variety of locations involved. His overseas service included Guantánamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, while his later Guard career included service in Washington, D.C.
The Defense Department continues to identify those deployments and awards in Hegseth’s official biography. His current position at the Pentagon has made that military background particularly relevant because he now serves as the civilian official responsible for leading the Defense Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pete Hegseth begin his military service?
Pete Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University in 2003.
Was Pete Hegseth in the Army or Army National Guard?
He served as an officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. His military career included periods of active-duty deployment as well as National Guard service.
Where did Pete Hegseth serve overseas?
His official record identifies deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan.
What was Hegseth’s role in Iraq?
He served as an infantry platoon leader in Baghdad and later worked as a civil-military operations officer in Samarra.
What did Hegseth do in Afghanistan?
He served as a senior counterinsurgency instructor in Kabul with the Minnesota Army National Guard.
How many Bronze Star Medals did Pete Hegseth receive?
The Defense Department’s official biography lists two Bronze Star Medals among his military awards.
Did Pete Hegseth serve in the Washington, D.C., National Guard?
Yes. D.C. National Guard records state that he joined on June 6, 2019, and remained a member until March 31, 2021.
Is Pete Hegseth currently serving in the military?
His current role is civilian. The Defense Department lists him as Secretary of Defense, with the secondary title Secretary of War authorized for the position. His official service chronology lists his Army National Guard service through 2021.
What military badges did Hegseth receive?
His official biography lists the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge among his military honors.
Pete Hegseth’s military record includes National Guard service, three overseas deployments, leadership assignments and multiple military decorations. The latest official records continue to identify those experiences as central elements of his background.
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