Summary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new standards for U.S. military combat roles, which will follow the highest male standards. These changes may limit the number of women in combat positions, but Hegseth emphasized that both men and women must meet these rigorous standards.
Key Facts
- Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary, announced new male standards for all combat roles in the military.
- The standards aim to ensure only the strongest men and women qualify for combat roles.
- New tests will be similar to current military fitness assessments, like the Army's Expert Physical Fitness Assessment.
- The standards apply gender-neutral age norms but follow the highest male benchmarks.
- All members must pass these fitness tests twice a year, along with annual weight and height checks.
- Different military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force) have various fitness requirements.
- Existing standards in branches involve assessments like running, push-ups, and body measurements.
