Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will reimpose the “highest male standards” for all combat roles, a move expected to reduce the number of women serving in frontline positions.
Speaking to senior military leaders at Quantico, Va., Hegseth said combat jobs must meet the most demanding requirements because “this is life or death.” He added, “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. It will also mean that weak men won’t qualify — because we’re not playing games.”
The policy will require combat troops to pass gender-neutral tests at male standards above 70 percent, with all service members taking physical assessments twice a year. Hegseth also mandated daily physical training, stricter weight and height requirements, and a merit-based promotion system prioritizing “lethality.”
The announcement marks a sharp reversal from Hegseth’s Senate confirmation testimony, when he pledged to support women in all military roles. Women were first allowed into combat positions in 2016 after a Pentagon review under the Obama administration.
The new standards align with a broader “Culture of Fitness” initiative, including tougher tests such as a 2-mile run and combat field assessments modeled after existing Army and Marine programs.
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