US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has created an Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon. He announced it during his “State of the Force” speech at Quantico, Virginia, on September 30.

The office will report directly to Hegseth. It will “strengthen the moral, ethical and spiritual readiness of our warfighters”, he said. A Pentagon memo says no one will be compelled to take part in religious activities. A leader for the office has not been named.

“Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armor of God, because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual,” Hegseth said.

He said chaplains had been sidelined by paperwork. The new office will advocate for chaplains’ budgets and faith-based homeschool support for military families. It will also back faith-based suicide-reduction initiatives.

Church-state separation advocates criticised the move. They argue it elevates Christianity in military policy.

Hegseth also confirmed a 20 per cent cut to the ranks of generals and admirals. This doubles the 10 per cent reduction he ordered last year. He also announced an Autonomous Warfare Command to develop autonomous military capabilities.