Title: U.S. Military to Implement Highest Male Standards for Fitness Tests

The U.S. military will adopt the "highest male standard" for all combat roles across its branches, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a speech at Quantico, Virginia. Hegseth addressed hundreds of generals and admirals, emphasizing the importance of rigorous standards in combat positions.

"At my direction, each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat MOS [military occupational specialty], for every designated combat arms position, returns to the highest male standard only," Hegseth stated. He added that meeting and exceeding these standards is essential, saying, "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."

While the new policy does not explicitly call for a reduction in the number of women in combat roles, Hegseth acknowledged that it could lead to fewer women qualifying. He remarked, "If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is." He also noted that the new standards would mean that some men may not qualify, stating, "This is combat. This is life or death."

Each branch of the military has its own fitness tests. The Army's test consists of five events: a three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-ups, a sprint-drag-carry, planking, and a two-mile run. Active-duty soldiers in designated combat specialties must score a minimum of 350 points, with at least 60 points in each event. Currently, the scoring system differentiates between men and women. For instance, men aged 17-21 must lift 150 pounds to score 60 points in the deadlift, while women must lift 120 pounds for the same score.

The Air Force recently introduced a new Physical Fitness Assessment, which includes a 100-point scoring system across four categories: cardiorespiratory fitness, waist-to-height ratio, muscle strength, and core endurance. In the push-up category, men under 25 must complete 67 push-ups to earn a perfect score, while women need to do 47 push-ups for the same score. Under the new directive, the minimum push-up requirement for women is expected to double.

The Navy's Physical Fitness Assessment includes height and weight verification, planks, two-minute push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. For men aged 17-19, the expectation is to complete 46 push-ups in two minutes, while women in the same age group are required to do 20 push-ups. The minimum run times also differ, with men needing to complete the 1.5-mile run in 12:15 and women in 14:45.

The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test consists of pull-ups or push-ups, a plank pose, and a three-mile timed run. Historically, men and women have faced different standards, with men required to finish the run in 28 minutes and women in 31 minutes.

The implementation of these new standards marks a significant shift in military fitness requirements, focusing on uniformity in combat readiness across all branches.