The U.S. Army just pulled the plug on a Biden-era program that many soldiers never wanted in the first place.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this week that the Army is ending the Command Assessment Program (CAP), a system launched in 2020 that used psychological tests and peer reviews to help decide officer promotions.
Instead, the Army is returning to its old way of doing things: promotions based on performance records through the Centralized Selection Board.
Good riddance.
Promotions across @DeptofDefense will ONLY be based on merit & performance. pic.twitter.com/ttGRGsIByA
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 3, 2025
The Core Question: Merit or Politics?
This is a win for common sense. Promotions should come from proven results, not from social experiments.
Hegseth made that clear in his post, saying promotions will now be based only on merit and performance.
That strikes a chord with service members and families who believe the military’s first job is to fight and win wars – not to run diversity workshops.
The numbers back it up. Participation in CAP dropped sharply.
By 2024, more than half of officers (54%) opted out of the program altogether, according to Military Times.
That tells you soldiers weren’t buying into it. Compare that to 2019, before CAP took hold, when 60% participated.
The Case for Keeping CAP
A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association claimed that programs like CAP reduce bias and help organizations feel fairer.
Supporters argue that peer reviews and personality screenings give a fuller picture of leadership.
But the results speak louder than theory. CAP didn’t increase trust in the system, and it didn’t boost interest in leadership. If anything, it discouraged people from wanting to be part of it.
Back to Basics
Hegseth, a former Army Major and Trump appointee, has long criticized “woke” policies in the military.
Back in January, he called for restoring a “fighting force” that rewards initiative and excellence – without factoring in race, gender, or other boxes to check.
This fits with Trump’s broader push to roll back Biden-era policies.
For example, the Pentagon missed its 2024 enlistment goal by 10,000 recruits. Conservatives point to distractions like CAP and other social initiatives as part of the problem.
When young Americans see the military focusing more on diversity slogans than on battlefield readiness, many just tune out.
The Silver State’s Stake in the Debate
For Nevadans, this debate hits close to home. Our state has more than 200,000 veterans and thousands of active-duty soldiers, especially through Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas and the Nevada National Guard.
When Washington plays politics with the military, Nevada families feel the impact directly.
Parents here want their sons and daughters led by commanders chosen for skill and grit—not by a popularity contest or psychological quiz.
Conservative veterans’ groups in Nevada have often pushed back against what they see as politically driven experiments.
They argue that keeping promotions strictly merit-based ensures the military stays sharp and effective, especially with global threats rising.
The Culture War Inside the Pentagon
Critics on the left say canceling CAP could bring back old biases. But supporters argue that merit naturally creates fairness.
The best soldiers rise because they’ve proven themselves under pressure, not because of a checkbox.
That legacy of strength is what many believe Hegseth is trying to restore.
The Future of America’s Fighting Force
At the end of the day, this isn’t just a debate about paperwork. It’s about what kind of military we want defending our country.
Do we want a force focused on fairness workshops and surveys? Or do we want one built on toughness, skill, and proven leadership?
Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration are betting that the answer is the latter. And for many conservatives – and plenty of Nevada families with loved ones in uniform – that’s exactly the right call.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
