US Defence Secretary orders gender-neutral fitness standards for all combat arms roles
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to adopt gender-neutral physical fitness standards for all combat arms roles.
Each branch of the armed forces has been given 60 days to submit proposals that define which positions are considered combat arms roles, and six months to begin implementing the changes.
"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," Mr Hegseth said in a memo.
He has previously voiced opposition to women serving in combat, and has emphasised that no existing standards will be lowered.
At present, the US Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) uses different standards for men and women, adjusted by age.
To achieve a top score in the hand-release push-up test, a 17 to 21-year-old male must complete 57 in two minutes, while a female of the same age needs 53.
To pass the two-mile run, the minimum requirement for men is 22 minutes, compared with 23 minutes and 22 seconds for women.
Under the new directive, these separate benchmarks would need to be brought in line, potentially raising the standards for female soldiers.
The directive reflects a broader trend towards performance-based assessment in military forces.
The British Army, for instance, uses the Role Fitness Test (RFT), which measures capability according to job demands rather than age or gender.
In the US, gender-neutral standards have long been debated.
In 2021, internal British Army figures from April showed 44% of women failed the ACFT, compared to 7% of men since 1 October.
Whether other militaries follow suit remains to be seen, but for now, the US appears to be taking a firm stance on a single, equal standard for combat fitness.
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