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#Post#: 6218--------------------------------------------------
U.S. military will test service members’ testosterone levels
DIR By: Masked Man
Date: July 22, 2026, 4:06 pm
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U.S. military will test service members’ testosterone levels,
Pete Hegseth says
Hegseth said that service members 30 and older will undergo the
annual screening and that people can choose whether to pursue
testosterone replacement therapy.
LINK:
HTML https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/pete-hegseth-says-military-will-test-service-members-testosterone-leve-rcna587682
COMMENT:
Checking testosterone levels!? Yet, "the Trump administration
has significantly cut the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) budget and workforce, while also disengaging
from the World Health Organization (WHO). These changes have
resulted in the elimination of thousands of positions and the
dismantling of specific disease surveillance programs, such as
those tracking foodborne parasites"
CDC Workforce and Budget Cuts: The CDC lost nearly 3,000 staff
members, and ongoing congressional budget discussions propose
reducing the agency's funding by 54%.
Dismantled Surveillance Programs: The CDC reduced its FoodNet
disease reporting requirements. States are no longer required to
report on six of eight tracked pathogens (such as cyclospora).
WHO Disengagement: The administration disengaged from the WHO,
prompting criticism from health leaders who questioned the move
amidst international disease outbreaks and the dismantling of
existing domestic surveillance systems.These cutbacks have
sparked backlash and concern from former health officials and
lawmakers, who warn that the reduced expertise and staff are
severely compromising the nation's ability to monitor and
respond to infectious disease outbreaks"
...I am but a layperson.. just a person that tries to honor
country and veterans , All I can say is covid is currently
rising quite high and cyclospora is skyrocketing. There's a lot
of people in military with long covid..that's a lot of brain fog
my friend and right now there is currently a huge food parasite
outbreak ..one of the biggest in US history. US Military might
want to stock up on n95 masks and toilette paper if they are
going to have a fighting chance.
I'd argue that it is the 'Achilles heel' and it is a weak
defense for a country to not have a strong disease control
center and to not participate with The WHO. The dismantling of
specific disease surveillance programs is leaving US hospitals
without key expertise on disease.
While testosterone levels may be a thing we should all should
study we certainly can't expect soldiers with other diseases,
illnesses to perform at a competent or safe level of
performance. In history and even today there have been countless
challenges with viruses, food parasites, and all sorts of
illnesses the military has to deal with and also bring home to
their families.
For example, "conflicts prior to World War I, such as the
American Civil War and the Crimean War, disease—predominantly
diarrhea and dysentery—killed far more soldiers than combat. In
many cases, roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of total
wartime deaths were caused by sickness rather than battle
wounds"
Disease—predominantly diarrhea and dysentery—killed far more
soldiers than combat. until they had a modern understanding of
germ theory and agencies such as the CDC and The WHO to monitor
diseases and illnesses with.
For the sake of the military's best interest, I'm concerned that
the administration's cost-reduction efforts—including the
dismantling of global health programs at USAID will impact the
military just as it has heavily impacted U.S. public health
infrastructure.
I just think it unrealistic and a lack of strategy to overlook
the impact infectious diseases and illnesses have on one another
in these current times. Seems morally wrong and downright
dangerous to not have disease surveillance programs, such as
those tracking foodborne parasites with everything that is
currently going on and with all the modern tools and technology
we claim to have at our fingertips. It's important to know
what's cutting people down when it is occurring.. it's important
to track infectious diseases and illnesses. It's useful to know
where the weaknesses are.
There's all sorts of battles out there.. never underestimate the
microscopic entity! My grandfather caught malaria in WW2 and he
had problems with it later in life. I Had a stepson that got bit
by sand spider or something in Afghanistan.. then he got ill and
had to go to Walter Reed Hospital ..Getting bit by a sand spider
in Afghanistan was like having some sort of Lyme disease that
can lead to all sorts of health problems... also , my stepson's
body nearly shutdown from severe dehydration in desert..military
might want to study the terrain other challenges that are abroad
for our soldiers.. he nearly died from dehydration..that can
mess up the kidneys for life..end up on a kidney machine... then
my loved ones husband in Nam was exposed to agent orange and
ended his own life because of agent orange effects...that's just
the tip of the iceberg The list goes on and on....besides
testosterone levels, "veterans face numerous long-term health
risks from their military service that have nothing to do with
combat injuries". War is Hell. I'm sure many veterans will tell
you there are numerous health risks they have faced. Anyway
point is it's important to track infectious diseases and
illnesses for soldiers as well as civilians.
If programs that monitor diseases and illnesses get cut and then
diseases or illnesses start breaking out then economic and
social strife naturally follow and nobody wins. You are only as
strong as your weakest link. Soldiers don't fight on an empty
stomach nor do they fight if they are sick. I can only speak for
myself but I imagine most people fight for the sake of their
family's well being as well.. everybody wants the family they
come home to, to be safe, healthy, and not sick. To me, that's
the whole point and that is what it means to 'serve and
protect'.
Regardless of what I say, To me, about the only thing we all can
pretty much agree on is: Everybody wants good health!
I tend to treat a person who might have had covid or long covid
with 'kid' gloves(which means basically everybody).. I proceed
cautiously...I'm a masker and Ive never had covid and quite
frankly I am somewhat wary of the long term repercussions of
those that have had covid. Not to judge but a disease is a
disease and one can't help but read the studies about early
onset dementia , heart problems, etc that can and often appear
to be stemming from covid infections...
I'd be far more worried about long covid, brain fog amongst
administration and military and civilians than testosterone
levels,...
"Pete Hegseth: I got COVID last year “because we were doing
events at diners, talking to voters”
Hegseth has downplayed COVID-19 and criticized pandemic safety
measures
LINK:
HTML https://www.mediamatters.org/pete-hegseth/fox-news-host-pete-hegseth-i-got-covid-last-year-because-we-were-doing-events-diners
Note: currently (July 22 2026) many states are experiencing a
major surge of
covid cases and cyclospora is making US history skyrocketing and
we don't know when the cases will stop rising in numbers yet
and many diseases such as measles and whooping cough that were
once considered eradicated here are now back on the scene. It's
not looking pretty around here insofar as disease and illness
goes. Like I said "a disease is a disease" I don't want to
dishearten those misfortunate ones with covid but It's simply
hard to tell or trust how much a disease has affected someone
and their abilities.
I have a mask on . I never caught covid and that's just how I
feel. When someone catches a disease its natural for me to
wonder how it may have affected them and their health. There is
a natural fear and wonder if that person is 'all there' or
not... That's the hard cold fact about diseases and the impact
they have on the sound body and sound mind. It's natural to
wonder that about any disease. Nowadays if one senses any kind
of brain fog.. any kind of odd lack of reasoning its easy to
wonder maybe they suffered more than they think. There's been
some pretty weird behavior and antics out there on the stage
amongst politicians and such you have to admit. Lots of
weirdness and odd aggression..kind of pushy... Testosterone
testing? lol there might be too much testosterone if you ask me.
lol
On a more serious note this covid thing is still relatively
novel .. the grim reality is that some people might not ever be
quite the same after they catch covid. Covid really does
something to them. That's what people aren't talking about or
able to talk about because its too scary to discuss. That's
probably why there are many studies being done right now and a
need for agencies that help monitor diseases in this country.
One of the problems with covid and diseases is the denial...
there are many personalities who would rather not know or admit
to their shortcomings from having been ill or diseased. Some
people don't like what medical studies reveal. Some people can't
cope or are afraid to acknowledge the toll an illness may have
taken on their mind and body especially the politician-type
personality! It's appropriately termed 'downplaying' covid. They
are definitely finding learning problems amongst children who
have had covid so it would not be far fetched to think the same
is occurring in adults.
I am peculiar in that I haven't caught covid . I have been
masking and taking precautions. From my perspective I can only
rely on observations and studies insofar as how covid affects
people it has infected. It is as if those infected are too close
to it..it is not really comforting nor psychologically possible
for all covid victims to admit that maybe covid has affected
them or their abilities. They might suffer bias or suffer
professionally for admitting any such weakness. As with any
diseases there is a plugged in denial thing going on because
people don't want to be judged or thought of poorly if they have
a disease or a disability.. there might be bias or prejudice of
sorts from the public...
...That denial, attitude and fear of being discriminated
against and that fear of showing others weakness actually sets
us back from seeking treatment and acknowledging the problem.
Its like a drunk's denial that something is wrong.. they always
feel smarter and stronger and they are always cocky when they
are drunk .. they are too close to it to see they are really
just sloppy drunk. I don't drink the last thing in the world I'm
gonna do is trust a drunk or tipsy person. It's almost the same
with a person who is showing signs or symptoms of a disease.
Certain people can't seem to admit there is something wrong with
them. I don't have covid and all I'm saying is if I have to meet
a person in public I simply have to keep good boundaries ..I
don't know if they are just one of the many that got messed up
by covid. Its hard to trust a diseased person and its hard for
them to acknowledge the disease or the toll it may have taken on
them as well. It's too scary for them to admit or acknowledge it
.. diseases do carry stigmas..
...which again is why we need more studies and agencies that
monitor diseases and illnesses. Society always needs and
deserves legitimate up to date studies about covid, diseases,
illnesses, and outbreaks. We can't do it all by ourselves. The
hospitals and doctors need these agencies and studies so they
can act in accordance to the findings.
I actually looked its up:
Is it possible long covid is making people act strangely?
"Yes, Long COVID can cause people to act strangely, as the virus
can impact the central nervous system. Lingering
neuropsychiatric symptoms often include severe "brain fog,"
dramatic mood swings, intense anxiety, lack of motivation, and
personality changes.
These behavioral shifts and unusual symptoms are linked to
measurable biological changes:
Brain Chemistry Changes: Research suggests Long COVID can damage
dopamine-releasing neurons in the striatum. This area of the
brain regulates motivation, reward, and executive function.
Neuroinflammation: Persistent, low-grade inflammation and immune
dysregulation can disrupt the brain regions that control emotion
and rational thought.
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction: Dysautonomia is common and
can trigger sensory hypersensitivity and sudden emotional surges
or shutdowns.
Cognitive Overload: Executive dysfunction, or "brain fog,"
impairs a person's ability to process complex tasks, control
impulses, or adapt to changing demands, which often leads to
uncharacteristic frustration or withdrawal."
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