Hegseth hails the end of the Army command promotion program that sought to eliminate bias

The U.S. Army announced the cancellation of its controversial Command Assessment Program (CAP), a system that used psychological testing, peer evaluations, and behavioral analysis to select future commanders. The decision marks a return to a model centered on merit and military performance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated the move with a direct message on X: "Good riddance! Promotions across the Department of Defense will ONLY be based on merit and performance."

A system that engendered distrust

Although the CAP sought to reduce promotion bias, fewer and fewer officers were willing to participate. In 2024, more than half of eligible senior officers (54%) declined to join the program, compared with 40% who turned down the opportunity to assume a higher position in 2019.

Internal documents described the assessments as a package of tests measuring emotional intelligence, self-awareness, responsibility, and other personality traits, in addition to cognitive skills.

Despite this, the program did not generate an increase in interest in assuming leadership positions and, on the contrary, raised questions about its effectiveness and credibility.

Scandals and lack of results

Confidence in CAP took a further hit when General Charles Hamilton, then commander of the Army Materiel Command, was removed in December 2024. An Inspector General investigation concluded that he had attempted to influence the promotion process in favor of a lieutenant colonel who had failed the program evaluation.

That episode reinforced the perception that the system was vulnerable to favoritism, undermining the purpose for which it had been created.