Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed a Pentagon-wide review of military standards for physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, including beard regulations.
• The review will examine how these standards have evolved since January 1, 2015, and assess the reasons and impacts of those changes.
• Hegseth emphasized the importance of maintaining high and clear standards to ensure the U.S. military remains a unified and effective fighting force.
• Changes made during the Biden administration, such as relaxed grooming rules and increased body fat allowances, will be scrutinized as part of the review.
• The initiative reflects Hegseth's broader effort to restore a focus on readiness, discipline, and the military's core warfighting mission.