Are there official military records or FOIA documents detailing Pete Hegseth’s service history?
Executive summary
Official biographies published by the Department of Defense and the Defense Department history office list Pete Hegseth’s service: commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard after graduating Princeton, deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, and promotion to major with awards including two Bronze Stars [1] [2] [3]. News organizations and watchdogs have reported release or pursuit of internal military files and inspector-general reviews related to his later conduct, and several outlets say military evaluations and IG reports exist or were obtained by reporters [4] [5] [6] [7].
1. Official biographies exist and summarize his service
The Department of Defense and Defense Department history pages carry official biographies stating Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard after Princeton, served in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, rose to the rank of major and received combat awards including two Bronze Stars [1] [2] [3]. These pages function as formal, public-facing military records and are the primary official sources summarized by multiple outlets [1] [2].
2. Media have obtained or described underlying personnel evaluations
News organizations reported that copies of Hegseth’s military evaluations were obtained and described as glowing in parts — for example, Fox News obtained evaluations calling him an “incredibly talented, battle‑proven leader” during his confirmation period — indicating that more detailed performance records exist beyond the one‑page biographies and have been shared with reporters [4].
3. FOIA and watchdog pursuit of inspector‑general reports is active
Watchdog groups have filed Freedom of Information Act requests seeking the Pentagon Office of Inspector General review of Hegseth’s use of encrypted messaging apps for official business; American Oversight publicly sought release of the OIG evaluation after reporting that the review was completed [7]. Multiple outlets reported the IG review itself was completed and sent to Congress, and news organizations have relied on sources familiar with the report to describe its findings [5] [6].
4. Reporting describes a completed IG review but full documents remain restricted
Several outlets say the Pentagon watchdog completed an investigation into Hegseth’s Signal messages and concluded his sharing of operational details risked endangering troops; those accounts are based on people familiar with the classified IG report rather than on a publicly posted IG document [5] [6]. American Oversight’s FOIA filing shows civil‑society actors are attempting to compel release of the report, which suggests the full IG text is not yet publicly released via FOIA at the time of these reports [7].
5. What is in the public record vs. what sources say exists
Publicly posted, official biographies and departmental webpages supply summary service records and honors [1] [2] [3]. Journalists and watchdogs report that additional personnel evaluations and the IG’s classified review exist and that some media have seen or been briefed on portions of them [4] [5] [6]. Available sources do not mention a public, complete FOIA release of Hegseth’s full personnel file or the unredacted IG report as of these reports; advocacy groups have filed FOIA requests to obtain them [7].
6. How to pursue the records yourself
Based on current reporting, those seeking full documents would need to: request Hegseth’s DoD OIG report and personnel records via FOIA (noting American Oversight’s existing requests), monitor the OIG and DoD websites for releases, and watch congressional disclosures since the IG report was reportedly sent to Congress [7] [5]. Reporters have secured copies of some evaluations via sources, which underlines that documents may be accessible only through press reporting, whistleblowers, or successful FOIA litigation [4] [7].
Limitations and competing viewpoints
Sources disagree on significance and consequence. The Pentagon‑watchdog reporting cited by major outlets concluded Hegseth’s Signal use “risked endangering troops” and possibly violated policy, but those same reports note the IG did not definitively rule on whether he declassified the information and that Hegseth claims declassification authority [6] [5]. Editorial outlets portray Hegseth either as a battle‑proven leader (citing military evaluations; [10]3) or as unfit and dangerous based on recent IG findings and operational controversies [8] [9]. Available sources do not mention any fully public release of the unredacted IG report or a complete FOIA disclosure of his full personnel file at this time [7].