US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive requiring gender-neutral physical fitness standards for all combat arms roles across the US military. This significant shift in policy mandates that fitness assessments be based solely on the operational demands of each role, ensuring readiness for any adversary, without regard to gender.
Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women serving in combat, made it clear that no existing standards will be lowered, signalling that women may face increased fitness requirements under the new policy. Currently, the US Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) features different benchmarks for men and women, with variations based on age. The new policy aims to align these benchmarks to create equal standards for all combat positions.
The military branches have been given 60 days to propose which positions qualify as combat roles, with six months to begin implementation. This move reflects a growing trend toward performance-based assessments in military forces, similar to the UK’s Role Fitness Test (RFT), which measures capability based on job demands rather than age or gender.
The transition to gender-neutral standards has sparked debate, with figures from the British Army showing a significant disparity in ACFT pass rates between men and women. Whether other countries will follow the US’s lead remains to be seen, but for now, the US military is setting the pace with a firm stance on equal fitness standards.