Pentagon Orders Equal and High Fitness Standards for Combat Roles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signs memorandum mandating uniform requirements for men and women in combat roles, with military branches tasked to review and standardize fitness and grooming policies.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military to implement equal and high fitness standards for men and women in combat roles, formalized in a memorandum signed on March 31, 2025.
The ongoing review will assess changes to military standards since 2015, when all combat roles were opened to women, focusing on physical fitness, body composition, and grooming requirements.
Current military fitness tests vary across branches, with gender- and age-based adjustments for routine annual tests, while combat-specific roles already require gender-neutral standards.
Critics warn that eliminating gender- and age-based scoring adjustments could impact recruitment and retention, especially if stricter standards are phased in quickly.
The initiative highlights tensions between maintaining combat readiness and addressing inclusivity, with potential implications for recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness across the armed forces.

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