In a significant policy shift, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of the U.S. military's fitness and grooming standards.
According to Breitbart, this directive aims to assess and potentially renovate the current benchmarks for physical readiness and appearance within the armed forces, announced on March 12, 2025.
Secretary Hegseth's decision covers all branches of the military, focusing on physical fitness, body composition, and grooming standards. The review, as reported by Breitbart News, follows observations of declining standards, potentially affecting the force's effectiveness and readiness.
The initiative has been delegated to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who is tasked with analyzing these standards dating back to January 1, 2015. The review's scope includes identifying the reasons behind any changes and their impacts.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot highlighted concerns about the erosion of standards during the tenure of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley. According to Ullyot, this period saw significant laxity in maintaining rigorous physical benchmarks.
Secretary Hegseth, echoing Ullyot's concerns, has stressed that maintaining high and equal standards across all genders and races is crucial for operational readiness and effectiveness. His review will explore whether adjustments to standards have detracted from the military's warfighting capabilities. The core mission of warfighting demands exceptional fitness and readiness, a doctrine Hegseth has vigorously championed since his confirmation. During his January confirmation hearing, addressing Senator Tom Cotton, Hegseth underscored his commitment to meritocracy and lethal effectiveness in the U.S. armed forces.
Hegseth has been a proponent of gender-neutral physical fitness standards that align closely with each military role's specific requirements. His approach is to maintain rigidity in these mandates, ensuring that all personnel, regardless of gender, meet the same high standards.
"The weight of the ruck on your back does not change. The weight of the 155 rounds that you have to carry does not change. The weight of the 240-Bravo machine gun you might have to carry does not change," Hegseth remarked, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of these demands.
In response to queries about potential biases in standard-setting, Hegseth indicated that changes made under previous administrations to accommodate racial or gender quotas undermined readiness. He stressed, "And Senator, in any place where those things have been eroded or in courses criteria have been changed in order to meet quotas — racial quotas or gender quotas — that is putting a focus on something other than readiness, standards, meritocracy, and lethality."
Illustrating his leadership style, Hegseth has actively participated in physical training sessions with troops. This hands-on approach was highlighted during a recent training session with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany, where Hegseth's involvement underscored his dedication to fitness. The images of this session went viral, reinforcing his message about the non-compromisable nature of military fitness.
Commanders and military leadership are expected to provide feedback for the review. Hegseth has emphasized that these insights should serve as the foundation for setting and enforcing high standards, untainted by political or ideological influences.
"Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards," Hegseth explained about the initiative's goals.
He concluded firmly, "And no other set of political prerogatives — when I talk about removing politics, ideological or political prerogatives — should contribute to those determinations. Nothing other than the execution of the mission."
This sweeping review promises to be a crucial step in reaffirming the U.S. military's commitment to excellence, ensuring that all personnel, irrespective of background, meet the demands necessary to maintain America's status as the world's most formidable fighting force.