""Each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat [military occupational specialty], for every designed combat arms position, returns to the highest male standard only," he said. "Because this job is life or death, standards must be met, and not just met - at every level, we should seek to exceed the standard, to push the envelope, to compete. "If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is," Hegseth continued."
"The 45-year-old defence secretary prompted a national outcry after claiming the Trump administration aims to hold military servicemembers to the "highest male standard.""
Pete Hegseth advocated returning combat requirements to the highest male standard and enforcing identical minimum physical performance benchmarks for men and women. The proposals include weakening servicemembers' ability to lodge complaints and issuing directives forcing all personnel to shave beards, removing exemptions for skin conditions or religious reasons. Current training for male and female servicemembers does not differ, and US military services imposed gender-neutral physical requirements for combat specialties in the 1990s. Twelve percent of combat-certified special operations roles are currently occupied by women. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the stance as hostile to servicewomen.
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