Some National Guard replaced in Illinois for not meeting standards
By: Nicholas Slayton, Jeff Schogol (Task Purpose)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Texas National Guard troops stand guard at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, Illinois on Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Texas Military Department has removed an unspecified number of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago for not being "in compliance" with its validation process.
A spokesperson for the Texas Military Department confirmed to Task & Purpose that "a small group" of the 200 National Guard members sent to Illinois this past week have been replaced after they were found to not meet certain standards. The move came amid criticism on social media over pictures that showed some of the Guard members appearing to be overweight, and as an appeals court temporarily blocked the deployment of the Texan troops into Illinois.
"In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission," a spokesperson told Task & Purpose by email this weekend. "The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced."
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A set of viral photos by ABC News earlier this week showed troops arriving in Chicago, with several appearing heavyset. The Texans were met with derision online for their appearance, with several people noting Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's comments about fitness standards during his September speech to top military leaders.
The Texas Military Department's response was to questions from Task & Purpose about whether Guardsmen were being evaluated for height and weight standards as a result of the pictures.
The Texas Military Department did not say exactly how the 200 deployed National Guard members were out of compliance and being replaced. The National Guard Bureau issued a statement on Oct. 9 saying that "National Guard Soldiers and Airman are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times." The statement did not include any context about what prompted it, not did it mention the photos criticized on social media.
They fatties.
More likely they seemed too reluctant to murder Americans for exercising their first amendment rights.
The rag tag bunch of ICE masked thugs don't meet any kind of standard at all.
This entire chaotic operation in communities is chaos and lacking standards on purpose.
Rag tag masks, no uniforms, no valid warrants, no badges, you would think if they took pride in their task, asking for validation of standards would be first to stop scaring citizens in the community.
Texas needed their own Guard for disasters at home.