Policy Focus: The Role of Masculinity in Military Effectiveness and Lethality

The military’s primary function—defeating enemies—requires traditionally masculine traits like aggression, resilience, stoicism, and physical dominance. Recent cultural movements mislabeling masculinity as toxic and reorienting the military to prioritize inclusivity threaten combat effectiveness and readiness. To maintain military lethality, the U.S. must reaffirm masculinity within military training, standards, and ethos, emphasizing psychological and biological realities—ensuring forces remain prepared to confront adversaries decisively and successfully.