U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that fitness standards for combat roles in the military must now be gender neutral. This new rule formalizes what already exists in many combat jobs but aims to apply it consistently across all branches of the military.
What Does the New Order Say?
In a memo released on Monday, Hegseth asked military service leaders to:
- Clearly identify which jobs fall under combat arms, like infantry or special operations
- Ensure that these roles have equal physical fitness standards for all, based only on what the job requires — not gender or age
“Fitness requirements must be based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary,” the memo stated.
What Jobs Are Considered Combat Arms?
This part could be complex. While roles like infantry, armor, and special forces are clearly combat-related, it’s harder to define roles on Navy ships or military intelligence units.
For example, a sailor on a warship in the Middle East may have to fire weapons during an attack. Does that count as combat? Similarly, intelligence officers who work near the frontlines in war zones — should they meet combat-level fitness standards?
Each service must now decide which roles require higher-level physical readiness.
Why This Matters
The military has long used a two-part fitness system:
- Routine fitness tests, which vary based on age and gender
- Advanced fitness standards for combat roles like special forces, which are the same for everyone in that role
This new order mainly focuses on the second category, asking for clarity and fairness by applying one set of fitness standards to all individuals in combat jobs — regardless of whether they’re male or female.
Existing Standards in Special Roles
Many elite military jobs like:
- Army Green Berets
- Rangers
- Navy SEALs
- Marine special operations
already have tough physical and mental requirements that do not change based on gender or age. Recruits go through intense training and must meet the same fitness levels to qualify.
Even after women were allowed in all combat roles, the Army and Marine Corps updated their fitness standards to apply equally to men and women who want to serve in demanding jobs like infantry or armor.
Hegseth’s View on Fitness and DEI
Before becoming Defense Secretary, Hegseth publicly criticized the idea of adjusting standards to include women in combat roles. He argued that physical demands shouldn’t be lowered and supported stronger, more focused combat readiness.
In a March 12 memo, Hegseth also ordered a review of military rules on body composition, grooming standards, and more — including discussions around beards and other appearance rules.
What’s Next?
Military service leaders have:
- 30 days to submit an interim report
- 60 days to give final proposals on which roles are combat arms and how their standards will be applied
“As warfare evolves and our missions grow more complex, we must make sure our fitness standards match the physical demands our service members will face,” Hegseth said.