Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senior leaders at Quantico that every combat MOS and designated combat arms position will return to the highest male standard only.
• Combat arms units must execute their service fitness tests at a gender-neutral, age-normed male standard scored above 70 percent.
• A new combat field test will be added and must be executable in any environment using combat equipment, resembling existing Army and Marine assessments.
• Hegseth directed daily physical training for all personnel and mandated twice-yearly physical assessments for every service member, with annual height and weight checks.
• Reporters and analysts note the policy will likely reduce the number of women who qualify for certain combat roles, with implementation details and timelines still to be issued.