Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing to make a “State of the Force” address later this month, and he wants to see troops who fit “impeccable grooming standards” in the crowd, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

Hegseth — who has run the Defense Department with the looks department in mind, using a speech last year to go after “fat generals” and “beardos” serving Uncle Sam — emailed U.S. Army commanders asking them to share their picks of service members who meet certain “physical standards,” per the WSJ.

His request included troops who have passed the Army’s waist-to-height ratio and its fitness test as well as those who meet its “impeccable grooming and uniform standards (no exception),” according to the email.

His casting call looped in those who have been “consistently rated as top performers within their formations” and those who display “integrity, discipline and selfless service,” as well.

Hegseth, who is set to make the speech Sept. 30, also wrote that the candidates would have the opportunity to join him for a workout.

A Pentagon official contacted by the WSJ refused to comment. The Pentagon also refused to comment when contacted by HuffPost.

In July, the defense secretary privately shared his frustrations about seeing troops with facial hair and missing other marks when it came to their appearances, officials familiar with his complaints told CBS News.

One official told the network that Hegseth was “frustrated” that his body-shaming 2025 speech to top brass didn’t go as he hoped and that his calls for “stricter enforcement” of appearance standards weren’t embraced by Pentagon leaders.

In a statement to CBS News, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “Secretary Hegseth maintains the highest expectations for our service members to uphold the professional standards of appearance, fitness, and discipline that define our warfighting force, and he continues to emphasize consistent enforcement of hair, weight, and grooming standards across all ranks.”

He continued, “Commanders at every level are expected to lead by example by meeting these standards, implementing these requirements, and they will be held accountable for delivering results as the Department works to restore a culture of excellence and readiness. Our Armed Forces are stronger when every service member meets and exceeds these expectations.”

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