Hegseth made the fitness test harder for women in combat roles. Most female Marines are passing.

The 19th ^ | September 17, 2026 | Sonner Kehrt, The War Horse

[fwdude]

When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, Virginia, last September, he delivered a blunt message: Things were changing fast in the newly renamed Department of War.

...

What mattered going forward, Hegseth said, were standards.

“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat [units] with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,” he said.

The same day, Hegseth signed a directive requiring sex-neutral fitness standards for all troops in combat roles. The service began implementing the new standards earlier this year.

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[fwdude]

"Hegseth made the fitness test harder for women..."

In other words, he applied the same standards for men to women.

[ansel12]

If the girls can keep up with the men, then the standards can be raised.

[fwdude]

What most people don’t realize is that standards for everyone have been softening for decades. This softening has a direct correlation to women increasingly getting into combat roles.

[I want the USA back]

Feminazis don’t want to admit that men and women are different, collectively. But they want special privileges based on those differences. They want it both ways.

[ridesthemiles]

HEGSETH IS CORRECT

[libh8er]

Keep raising the standards until the girls can’t.

[Fido969]

So, what is the problem?

[libh8er]

Pete must have raised standards by a token amount.

[Red Badger]

For this, Tillis wants to impeach him................

[MoraBlack]

Have you thought that through? According to the article 91.38% of women and 96.53% of men in combat arms who have taken the test since January have met or exceeded the new standards. If standards are raised till all women fail lots of men will fail also. You’ll probably end up with a seriously depleted Marine Corps.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Pete must have raised standards by a token amount.

He said they must pass the same standards as the men.
So the standards must have been lowered overall in the past.

[Resolute Conservative]

And you can’t criticize them that is sexist or misogynistic.

[Resolute Conservative]

It is easier than that, no women in a combat role.

[Delta 21]

I dont want my son in combat with women around. Males are males and split tails are split tails. Patriarchal roles of male protector can not be just ignored by either sex.

IYKYK

[MayflowerMadam]

“Most female Marines are passing.”

I guess “passing” can be defined a couple of ways.

[Bigg Red]

The phrase “female Marine” should not exist.

[ComputerGuy]

There is no role for women in the Marine Corps. None.

[fuzzylogic]

Amen to him.

Ideology meets reality on the battlefield. Pete points to exactly the core problem - this isn’t about “equality”, it’s not about “equal rights and the advancement of women” - it’s about the DANGER THE MEN ALONGSIDE THEM are supposed to accept and is IRRESPONSIBLE to the women they claim to be cheering for. It’s an unfair proposition, accomplishing nothing but putting everyone’s lives in danger. War doesn’t give a damn about “women’s equality”. It is the ultimate arbiter of reality.

The only thing low standards will achieve is higher rates of dead soldiers.

[Uncle Miltie]

Yay!

The key test is: Can the soldier throw their wounded buddy over their shoulder and run from the battle to the field medic?

If “Yes”, they’re good to go.

[ansel12]

Exactly, and for those who don’t know why, GIs need bench depth, they need to have so much reserve male strength and endurance that after a year of sweltering jungle, poor food, and bouts of dysentery and malaria they can still defeat enemy paratroopers.

The same in any climate, in a long and sustained war against a peer military, things are going to be bad, and someone who can only meet the lower standards while eating well and working out in the gym, and sleeping well between clean sheets in between testing and who suffers injuries and pelvic fractures even during those ideal conditions doesn’t have the deep reserves and durability under field conditions that the male body and psyche has.