--- title: "6 new changes to expect at the Pentagon with Mattis as SECDEF" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/6-new-changes-to-expect-at-the-pentagon-with-mattis-as-secdef/" categories: - "Military News" --- # 6 new changes to expect at the Pentagon with Mattis as SECDEF ![]() Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rejoiced when retired Gen. James "Warrior Monk" Mattis was picked for the top job at the Pentagon by President-elect Donald Trump. --- The hard-charging Marine is known for his tenacity both on and off the battlefield. He expects the same tenacity among those who serve under him (just ask Col. Joe Dowdy). But the Mattis love can get a little out of hand. ![]() *Or... right at hand. (Vato Tactical and Kinetic Concepts Design)* So we tried to come up with a few ideas of what the Pentagon employees might expect now that Mattis could be next Secretary of Defense. ### 1. The "Run, Hide, Fight" active shooter policy will be simplified. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0 The [Department of Homeland Security]() prepares citizens to respond to an active shooter scenario using the phrase "Run. Hide. Fight." Which is great... for DHS. James Mattis' DoD won't run. And they definitely won't hide. ### 2. Incoming employees must submit a plan to kill everyone in their work section. ![]() One of the former General's most colorful quotes goes: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet." Mattis isn't going to be the kind of SECDEF that won't put his money where his mouth is. ### 3. No more TVs; just mandatory fun reading time. Mattis himself has [never owned a television](). ![]() *This man does not care about the new Gilmore Girls episodes.* He spent the time most of us spend on TV, video games, a wife, children, hobbies, etc. reading Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Patton, and Thucydides. That's where he earned the nickname "[Warrior Monk]()." Bring a book. And don't think "Harry Potter" will cut it. ### 4. Every employee's in-processing checklist will include getting shot at. As the Marine once said: "There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. It's really great." ![]() *Don't flinch.* ### 5. No more "Mad Dog." Now that Mattis will be in command again, the nickname so many use for him (including the President-elect) will have to be killed, slowly and deliberately, because[ according to NBC News, he really doesn't like it](). ![]() And it's unwise to continue to use a nickname for someone who doesn't like it, especially when that person is known to enjoy shooting "some assholes in the world who just need to be shot." ### 6. No more sauerkraut in the cafeteria. The place still stinks to high hell from [Robert Gates' Reuben sandwiches](). From now on, everyone will be required to drink three small glasses of fruit punch-flavored pre-workout drink Mattis invented, known as "The Blood of Our Enemies." ![]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()