Pentagon Overhauls Physical Fitness Standards for Combat Units
The Pentagon has taken a significant step this week by eliminating the previously lower physical fitness standards for women in combat units. This decision is expected to complicate the recruitment and retention of women in high-risk military roles.
New Sex-Neutral Fitness Requirements
In an order issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, all physical fitness requirements for combat positions—units that are likely to engage in significant fighting during wartime—will now be “sex-neutral.” This change could drastically decrease the number of women meeting the new criteria. Military leadership has been directed to implement these standards by the end of October.
Debates on Fairness in Fitness Testing
The U.S. military has long been embroiled in discussions regarding equitable assessments of women’s physical fitness to ensure fair placement in demanding combat roles and support their advancement in leadership positions.
History of Fitness Testing Adjustments
After extensive internal debates about annual fitness evaluations, the Army made adjustments in 2022 that simplified grading standards for women and older service members. A study conducted by the RAND Corporation revealed that women and older troops were failing the newly introduced tests at significantly higher rates than their male and younger counterparts.
Gender-Specific Standards Remain in Certain Roles
Different branches of the military have historically maintained varying fitness test standards for men and women. For instance, in the Marines, male recruits are required to complete three pull-ups or 34 push-ups within two minutes, while female recruits must complete just one pull-up or 15 push-ups in the same timeframe.
While Mr. Hegseth noted that gender-specific standards will still apply to some military roles, he asserted that women should not be placed in combat units unless they can meet the same fitness benchmarks as their male counterparts.
