Washington, D.C.; December 24th, 2025
As Christmas approached and much of the nation prepared to pause, the work of connection continued across time zones, with Pete Hegseth making Christmas morale calls to service members stationed around the globe, according to an official release from the U.S. Department of War.
The calls reached service members serving in a range of operational environments, from forward-deployed locations to established overseas installations. The Department described the outreach as a personal effort by the Secretary to thank troops for their service and to acknowledge the sacrifice of spending the holidays away from home, family, and familiar routines.
According to the Department’s release, the conversations were informal in tone, centered on listening as much as speaking. Service members shared brief snapshots of their missions, daily life, and holiday plans, while the Secretary emphasized appreciation for their professionalism and commitment during a season traditionally devoted to rest and reunion.
Holiday morale calls have long been a custom among senior defense leaders, reflecting an understanding that service continues uninterrupted even as the calendar turns. The Department noted that such outreach carries symbolic weight, reinforcing that deployed forces remain connected to leadership and to the nation they serve.
The calls spanned multiple geographic regions, underscoring the global footprint of U.S. military operations. While specific locations were not detailed, the Department emphasized that service members in every theater contribute to a single, integrated mission, regardless of distance from home.
In its release, the Department highlighted that morale and readiness are intertwined. Recognition and communication, even brief, play a role in sustaining cohesion and focus, particularly during periods when separation from loved ones is most keenly felt.
The outreach did not involve policy announcements or operational updates. Instead, it marked a pause in the administrative rhythm of defense leadership, creating space for direct acknowledgment of individual service members whose work often remains unseen by the public.
Issued through Defense Department News, the announcement records a moment of seasonal continuity rather than institutional change. As Christmas arrived, the calls served as a reminder that while missions persist year-round, recognition and gratitude remain constants as well.
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Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Defense Department News release titled “Hegseth Makes Christmas Morale Calls to Service Members Across the Globe,” December 2025
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