U.S. Army Implements Gender-Neutral Fitness Standards for Combat Roles

This week, the U.S. Army unveiled its updated fitness regulations, mandating that all personnel in combat positions, regardless of gender, must adhere to the same physical performance standards. Previously, standards were differentiated based on gender, but the new approach aims to create a uniform benchmark for all soldiers.

Objective of the New Army Fitness Test

The Army Fitness Test (AFT) is intended to enhance soldier fitness, boost warfighting readiness, and improve the lethality of U.S. forces. A press release highlights that this shift reflects a commitment to ensuring that soldiers are physically prepared for operational demands, particularly in challenging environments.

Controversy Surrounding Gender-Neutral Standards

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly criticized the inclusion of women in combat roles, stating on a recent podcast, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. It hasn’t made us more lethal.” In his book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, he further argued that “women cannot physically meet the same standards as men.”

He elaborated, suggesting that traditional gender roles play a role in military capabilities: “Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes… We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units.”

Implementation Timeline

The transition to the “sex-neutral” testing system is set to begin on June 1, 2023. Expectations are that this change may reduce the number of women who qualify for combat roles in the armed forces. Active duty soldiers must meet the new standards by January 2026, while National Guard and Army Reserve members have until June 2026.

Details of the New Standards

The updated AFT includes five specific events designed to gauge physical readiness:

• Three-repetition maximum deadlift
• Hand-release push-up arm extension
• Sprint-drag-carry—a combination drill involving sprinting, dragging, lateral movements, and kettlebell carries
• Plank
• Two-mile run

Combat soldiers must achieve a minimum score of 60 points in each event, with an overall score of at least 350. For “combat-enabling” troops, a lower threshold of 300 points applies.

Implications for Women in the Military

The prior Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) facilitated different scoring for men and women in its assessment. With the new AFT, women will be judged against the same criteria as men, likely necessitating higher performance thresholds than previously required. A 2017 study highlighted performance discrepancies between genders, suggesting that unique training programs are crucial to minimize such gaps.

A 2022 RAND Corporation study revealed that women and older military members historically underperformed on previous fitness tests compared to their male and younger counterparts.

Performance Variability Among Genders

The effectiveness of these tests may not reflect actual combat capabilities effectively. Dr. Caitlyn Mooney, a sports medicine physician at Vanderbilt Health, notes that physiological differences often place women at a disadvantage in strength-based tasks. For instance, “deadlifts are a strength event where women would likely perform, on average, 70 to 80 percent less than men when corrected for body weight.”

Dr. Mooney elaborates on additional events: “Hand-release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry tasks, and planks are areas where women may struggle more in comparison to men, while the two-mile run leans on cardiovascular endurance, where women typically perform at 80 to 90 percent of male counterparts.”

“It is important to reiterate that these specific tasks do not necessarily correlate with the ability to perform in combat,” said Dr. Mooney. “These tasks primarily evaluate power and forceful maneuvers, rather than endurance.”

Recruitment Challenges

Dr. Mooney expresses concerns that the military’s recruitment strategy may face additional challenges. “With ongoing health issues, including obesity and sedentary lifestyles, the military struggles to meet recruitment goals. Making the AFT gender-neutral might further restrict the pool of potential candidates,” she concludes.

As the Army moves closer to these new standards, the potential impact on female recruitment, retention, and the composition of combat units remains a topic of significant discussion and scrutiny.