U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, faced scrutiny over his experience level and personal conduct during his confirmation hearing on January 14.

In the first of several high-profile confirmation hearings for Trump's second-term nominees, Republican senators frequently touted Hegseth's military experience and praised his commitment to unraveling the Biden administration's efforts at the Pentagon Adopt a "wake up" policy.

Democratic senators, meanwhile, questioned Hegseth about his readiness to lead a massive bureaucracy, his views on the role of women in the military and allegations of alcoholism and sexual assault — most of which he dismissed as Anonymous "slander" from critics, including the news media.

In his opening remarks during the four-hour hearing, Hegseth said that if confirmed, he would restore the Department of Defense's "warrior culture," maintain high standards in the military and ensure readiness for combat.

Combat experience among defense ministers

Hegseth and one of his co-hosts touted the nominee's tenure as a rank-and-file soldier on the front lines. But they exaggerate how unusual this background is for recent defense secretaries.

Michael Walz, a Republican congressman from Florida and Trump's pick for national security adviser, introduced Heggs, saying he "will bring the perspective of being the first defense secretary to serve as a junior officer on the front lines rather than at headquarters." , on the front lines of the war on terror.”

Hegseth echoed this, saying: "It's time for people with dust on their boots to take the helm."

Hegseth joined the U.S. Army Reserves in May 2001. About a year later, he joined the National Guard and served in New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. He deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan and earned two Bronze Star Medals and a Combat Infantry Badge. When he retires in March 2021, Hegseth holds the rank of major.

But serving on the front lines is not uncommon among recent defense secretaries, including in relatively junior positions:

• Mark Esper, appointed by Trump during his first term, served in the military and saw combat during the Gulf War as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division.
• James Mattis, also appointed by Trump during his first term, commanded the assault battalion of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the Gulf War. He was a lieutenant colonel at the time.
• Chuck Hagel, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War despite a draft board recommendation that he did not need to enlist. From 1967 to 1968, he served as a sergeant in the infantry in Vietnam. He received two Purple Hearts after being wounded.
• William Perry was appointed by President Bill Clinton and served as a soldier in the Army during the Japanese occupation in 1946-1947.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, appointed by President Joe Biden to a more senior role, leads the 3rd Infantry Division from Kuwait to Baghdad.

Other defense secretaries who have recently held lower-level positions in the military include Les Aspin, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta.

Could Hegseth's tattoos prevent him from serving at Biden's inauguration?

"I also volunteered to guard Joe Biden's inauguration, but was denied the opportunity to serve because I was deemed an extremist by my own unit because I had a Christian tattoo," Hegseth said during the hearing.

Hegseth's tattoo features a Jerusalem cross and the Latin word "Deus Vult," which means "God willing." Hegseth has said in multiple interviews that he was barred from serving with the National Guard at Biden's 2021 inauguration because of his cross tattoo. He made no mention of his "Deus Vult" tattoo during these interviews or hearings.

The Associated Press reported that another Guard member flagged Hegseth's "Deus Vult" tattoo as a possible "insider threat" because of its ties to supremacist groups. Hegseth was told not to attend the inauguration.

Christianity experts told PolitiFact that the Jerusalem cross and the phrase "Deus Vult" date back to the Crusades and are now often associated with hardline groups.

Will the military prosecute adultery?

Tim Kaine, the Democratic senator from Virginia, has feuded with Hegseth over his past behavior toward women and his three marriages.

Citing court records and Hegseth's social media posts, the AP reported that Hegseth's second wife "filed for divorce after giving birth to a child with the Fox News producer, who is now his wife." His first marriage also ended due to his infidelity.

None of this happened while Hegseth was in the Army, so he won't face any military legal consequences.

But some critics warn that a history of adultery could cause problems for someone leading an organization where adultery is punishable in some cases.

Todd Huntley, director of Georgetown University's national security law program, said conduct that could be considered actionable includes sexual conduct between a superior and a subordinate or between a service member and another military spouse.

But historically, adultery was not charged separately. Huntley said if other misconduct is alleged, it would be considered an additional charge.

Today, Huntley said, adultery accusations are less common than they used to be.

What does Hegseth think about waterboarding?

Democrats criticized Hegseth's stance on waterboarding. But his account of the interrogation proceedings was specific to scenes, some of which predated the 2015 law banning waterboarding.

"Hegseth supports the use of torture, including waterboarding," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., wrote in a letter on Jan. 7 ahead of Hegseth's confirmation hearing.

During his confirmation hearing, Maine independent Sen. Angus King, who ran with Democrats in the primary, asked Hegseth: "Your position is, is torture OK? Is that right? Water?" punishment?"

Hegseth responded: "Senator, that's not what I said. I have never participated in torture. We are a country governed by the law and our men and women do it all the time, but we have too many of them in air-conditioned offices Lee likes to blame men who are in dark and dangerous places, helicopters (in) enemy territory, doing things that people in Washington, D.C., would never dare to do.”

Hegseth discussed waterboarding in 2008 and 2016 Fox News interviews. He said waterboarding could be useful in certain situations.

In 2008, when he joined Veterans for Freedom, Hegseth appeared on Fox News with then-host Bill O'Reilly, who asked him: "So, what do you think about water?" There was nothing wrong with convicting (9/11 attack conspirator) Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as (then-Vice President) Dick Cheney, right?”

Hegseth replied: "Personally, I don't think so."

In a 2016 Fox News discussion of Obama's CIA director John Brennan, Hegseth said Brennan was erratic on the issue of waterboarding. "Can the real Brennan please stand up? Because this is the man who has said before that these types of technologies helped us find (Osama) bin Laden, helped us find key clues to al Qaeda... He now obviously was playing its part in the political race between then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth said he would abide by the law if confirmed as defense secretary. When King asked, "Do you agree with waterboarding," Hegseth said, "Senator, waterboarding is illegal under state law."