Hegseth orders same physical requirements for men, women in combat roles, says US 'allowed standards to slip'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo emphasizing the importance of uniform physical fitness standards for men and women in combat roles. He stated that differing standards are unacceptable and that all service members should meet the same operational demands. Hegseth's directive aims to eliminate any allowances for lower standards based on sex, fostering an environment where leadership qualifications are based solely on merit. The memo calls for comprehensive plans to define combat versus non-combat roles and insists that all military personnel follow sex-neutral standards reflective of actual combat needs.

Different standards for men and women in combat arms, MOS and jobs, that's not acceptable, Hegseth said in a video posted to X, using the abbreviation for 'military occupational specialty,' or job type.

We have 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.

Read at New York Post