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3w ago

Pentagon Orders Gender-Neutral Fitness Standards for Combat Roles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mandates equal physical requirements for men and women in combat, with military branches given six months to implement the changes.

FILE - Female Marines go through one of the obstacles in the so-called confidence course at Parris Island Recruit Depot, S.,C., on May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Lolita Baldor, File)
Pete Hegseth
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Overview

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum on March 31, 2025, requiring gender-neutral physical fitness standards for all combat roles in the U.S. military.
  • The directive mandates that standards be based solely on the operational demands of combat roles, ensuring no current requirements are lowered.
  • Military branches have been given 60 days to submit implementation plans and must fully adopt the new standards within six months.
  • The policy aims to maintain high readiness and performance while addressing concerns about differing standards for men and women in combat arms occupations.
  • Hegseth, who previously opposed women in combat roles, has shifted his stance to support equal standards for all genders, emphasizing the importance of rigorous physical qualifications.