MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — What was mysteriously billed as the most consequential gathering of U.S. military brass in decades has been extended to make room for Secretary of Defense (and also War) Pete Hegseth’s visionary morale event: compelling 800 flag officers into a synchronized K-Pop Demon Hunter sing-along.

“This was the day-one activity,” said a beaming Hegseth as he greeted attendees. “Frankly, it was the only activity,” he said, before brushing off concern over the President’s attendance earlier in the week. “We had to throw together some crap about haircuts, P.T., near-peer whatever and roll to the right."

“Adapt and overcome,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, offering Hegseth a fist bump.

Many attendees admitted they'd braced for something far worse.

“After mass-firing, my best guess was a closed-door session on Chinese cyber-dominance,” said one three-star who asked not to be named. “Next thing I know, Pete’s at the podium, shirtless in a be-dazzled skin-tight flight suit unzipped to his navel, screaming ‘Welcome to Demon Boot Camp!’” By the time the backup dancers rappelled from the ceiling, the general said, it was too late to hide in the bathroom with the generals from SOF.

Others claimed they’d picked up early intel from their lieutenants in Roblox chatrooms but were still unprepared.

“I thought ‘Demon Hunter Singalong’ was some kind of Air Force ISR slang for going kinetic,” said an Army two-star as his Command Sergeant Major wiped neon glitter off him with a wet wipe. “As in, ‘hope those Houthis like karaoke, because we’re sending an invite to a Demon Hunter Singalong.’ Sounds like something those drone homos would say.”

“Serves us right for complaining about meetings that could be emails,’” he said, before carefully using his left hand to arrange his right hand in heart fingers.

Instead of a more typical bouncing-ball-style follow along, company grade officers on the joint staff projected the lyrics and dance moves from a single, 1172-slide PowerPoint with thousands of text animations for important lyrics.