The Pentagon has mandated the removal of lower physical fitness standards for women in combat units, which may hinder recruitment and retention of women in high-risk military roles. The order, issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, specifies all fitness requirements for combat arms positions must be sex-neutral. This decision follows past internal debates about fair grading for women and older troops, particularly as previous standards set in 2022 showed women failing at significantly higher rates. While some standards will remain gender-specific, the emphasis now is on equalizing expectations in combat readiness across gender.
The Pentagon's decision to eliminate lower physical fitness standards for women in combat units may hinder recruitment and retention of women in dangerous military jobs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's order mandates that all physical fitness requirements for combat positions be sex-neutral, potentially reducing the number of women who qualify for these roles.
Internal military debates have centered around how to fairly grade women's fitness in testing, as the U.S. military recognizes the challenges faced by female and older service members.
While Mr. Hegseth supports the move to sex-neutral standards, he acknowledges that some military jobs will still retain gender-specific fitness requirements.
#military-policy #women-in-combat #physical-fitness-standards #recruitment-challenges #gender-equality
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