US EditionMilitary review of fitness standards will find array of tests, but higher requirements for combat
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 60-day review of military combat arms standards to ensure exceptions are not being made for female troops in physically demanding roles, following concerns that military readiness has diminished since combat roles were opened to women in 2016.
- Hegseth's review was prompted by his long-standing opposition to gender-based differences in combat roles, arguing for equal standards for men and women to maintain the highest possible standards.
- The memo released by Defense Department officials on Monday calls for a redefinition of combat arms occupations and non-combat roles, listing three military specialties requiring heightened physical fitness.
- Hegseth stated, "For far too long, we allowed standards to slip, with different standards for men and women in combat arms," and said, "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles."
- As the implementation of new sex-neutral standards progresses over the next six months, military offices have already begun removing photos and stories detailing women's contributions, while military leaders warn that the shift could affect recruitment and retention, and Defense Department officials have not clarified if female service members may be asked to leave their current roles.
107 Articles
107 Articles
Hegseth orders 'sex-neutral standards' for military combat roles
Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he signed a memorandum to establish "sex-neutral standards" for combat roles.On Monday, Hegseth posted a video on social media announcing that he ordered the military to re-evaluate its current fitness criteria in an effort to eliminate different requirements for men and women in combat arms occupations.'All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms posi…
Fighting Troops - Pentagon orders physical tests without distinction of sex
The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who had already opposed the use of women in combat, ordered that physical fitness tests for combat troops no longer take gender into account, according to a memo released on Monday.
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