Posted on 04/02/2025 8:42:45 PM PDT by ransomnote
The secretary of defense on Sunday directed military departments to build plans that define and identify the combat arms and noncombat arms occupations within their respective military services.
Additionally, the departments are directed to develop mission-focused physical fitness standards for those combat arms roles to ensure service members can meet the physical demands of a combat environment.
In a memorandum signed March 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave military departments 60 days to develop the plans and submit them to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. An interim progress report on plan development must also be submitted within 30 days.
Also, part of the directive is that the military services should implement their plans within the following six months — around the end of November.
"The United States military's strength is rooted in its unwavering commitment to high standards that foster discipline, unity and purpose," Hegseth wrote. "It is these principles that have made our fighting force the most formidable in the world. As the nature of warfare evolves and the demands on our service members grow more complex, it is imperative that we assess and refine the physical fitness standards that enable our readiness and lethality."
Within ground combat occupations, Hegseth said standards must focus on things like the ability to carry heavy loads, endurance and operating in austere, hostile environments.
"Service members in these roles must exhibit speed, strength, agility and endurance to navigate the demands of combat situations," Hegseth said.
Standards for special operations forces personnel, he said, must look at advanced swimming, climbing and parachuting.
"Sustained peak physical performance is essential to execute missions of the highest stakes across diverse and challenging terrains," he said.
And for unique positions like Navy divers or explosive ordnance disposal technicians, there should be a focus on proficiency in those skills and endurance.
A key feature of the secretary's directive is that for combat arms roles, there will be only one, sex-neutral standard for both entry into such fields and for continued participation in those fields.
"All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms positions must be sex-neutral, based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary," Hegseth said.
The secretary noted that in establishing new sex-neutral standards for combat arms roles, no existing standards can be lowered.
"This initiative aligns with my broader directive to maintain uncompromising and clear standards that ensure the continued dominance of our military," Hegseth said.
"All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms positions must be sex-neutral, based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary," Hegseth said.
In Biden’s military they could just identify as physically fit but it started far earlier. I got out out in 90 and worked DoD for 28 years after that... It went down hill very fast and started with don’t ask don’t tell.
It’ll be a huge cleanup.
I like that Sec Hegseth keeps referring to lethality. There should always be a reference to the true task of the military.
EC
I am curious of what the standards will become. Equal standards does not necessarily equate to the proper standards. Women have always had a different standard.
In the U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course (BAC), the pull-up requirement is replaced by the flexed arm hang (FAH) for both men and women. This test ensures that participants can safely perform parachute-related tasks. Here’s a breakdown:
The standards are the same for both genders in this specific test. However, other physical fitness requirements, like push-ups, sit-ups, and running, differ based on gender and age.
Conceptually, if one can conduct required physical task at the lower numbers that person is fit enough to carry three days of water, ration, ammunition, extra mortar rounds, and crew served weapon ammunition and be ready to fight. Able to get into a hand to hand fight using an e-tool against all comers. If that is true there is no reason to make a physical standard more stringent than the current female standard.
Not a slam on women but logic.
Yesterday at Costco, I saw a couple of black young Sergeants who were each at least 50 pounds overweight.
This is why they’ve got a fatwa out on Pete.
As women fail the standards they will just lower the standards.
The article at the link says Hegseth specifically said standards cannot be lowered.
“The article at the link says Hegseth specifically said standards cannot be lowered.”
Define “lowered”. He said create a combined standard, which means right then and there the standard is lowered. He did not say make the standard the one the men use.
Hegseth added, “We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles to ensure our men and women who are under our leaders or in those formations have the best possible leaders and the highest possible standards that are not based at all on your sex if you’re a man or a woman.”
Hegseth explained that he would be signing the memorandum, which would be reviewed by the various U.S. military service branches, and that the United States would “soon” have “nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat.”
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