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Hegseth Rocks the Military With One Bold Move

April 1, 2025
by The Times Of America

Hegseth Orders Military to Reinstate Strict, Sex-Neutral Fitness Standards for Combat Roles

In a sweeping reversal of past policies, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. military to enforce sex-neutral physical fitness standards for combat roles. 

The directive, signed Sunday evening, aims to eliminate different fitness requirements for men and women in combat arms, marking a shift back to uniform, high-level expectations for all service members.

Hegseth signed the order Sunday evening while returning from Japan.

“For far too long, we allowed standards to slip, and different standards for men and women in combat arms, [military occupational specialties] and jobs, that’s not acceptable,” he said, according to Breitbart News.

He emphasized the necessity of ensuring that all personnel in combat roles meet the highest physical expectations, regardless of gender.

In the newly issued memorandum, Hegseth instructed the Army, Navy and Air Force to establish a clear distinction between combat arms and non-combat arms roles. The purpose, he wrote, is to identify positions requiring “heightened entry-level and sustained physical fitness” and ensure the standards reflect the demands of the job rather than gender-based accommodations.

Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Army National Guard officer, has long emphasized military readiness and physical conditioning. He frequently participates in workouts alongside U.S. troops while traveling overseas and has engaged in high-endurance activities, including a charity swim with Navy SEALs prior to assuming his current role, Breitbart News reports.

The new directive lays out physical expectations for combat personnel. Ground combat troops will be required to carry heavy loads, endure long periods of intense physical exertion, and operate effectively in hostile environments. 

Special operations forces, including elite military units, will be held to rigorous standards that emphasize swimming, climbing, parachuting and other physically demanding skills necessary for high-stakes missions. Navy Divers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians will need to demonstrate endurance in tasks requiring aquatic rescue, repairs and demolition operations.

“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,” Hegseth wrote in the memo.

The Defense Secretary’s order requires military branch leaders to submit proposals within 60 days, provide an interim update within 30 days and fully implement the standards within six months of approval.

The Pentagon has thrown its support behind the directive, with Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, a combat Army veteran and former Ranger, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to strengthening military readiness.

“For too long, the U.S. military has let standards slip for men & women serving in combat arms jobs. Under President Trump & Secretary Hegseth’s leadership, our standards will be high, uniform, uncompromising, & clear,” Parnell posted on X.

Hegseth’s decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some claiming it’s an attempt to limit women’s participation in combat roles. Critics of gender-based fitness standards have long argued that combat effectiveness should always come first, rather than policies focused on diversity. 

This new directive, however, signals a return to strict and uniform physical requirements for the military’s most demanding positions.

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