Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review on military standards. This includes physical fitness, body composition, and grooming. Hegseth had promised to conduct the review during his hearing, when asked about his claims that military standards were eroding.
In January, Hegseth stated that “that will be one of the things we do first at the Pentagon – is review in a gender neutral way — standards ensuring ready and meritocracy are front and center.”
Hegseth, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness, sent a memo to the Pentagon on Wednesday night. The memo directed the Undersecretary to review existing standards established by military departments.
Hegseth stated, “We must maintain the standards which enable our men and women in the military to protect our people and homeland as the most lethal and efficient fighting force in the world,” “Our enemies are not weakening, and neither are our tasks.”
The memo instructs the review to examine standards and their changes since Jan. 1, 2015 The Defense Department declared that it would allow women to take on all combat roles in December 2015.
Hegseth had previously argued against this policy, telling a podcast shortly before being appointed as Defense Secretary, “We shouldn’t have women in combat roles.” It has not made us more efficient. It hasn’t made our lethal.”
Hegseth has retracted this view a bit during his confirmation hearing. He promised that women will have access to combat roles as long as the standards are high and “haven’t been eroded.”
Katherine Kuzminski is the director of studies for the Center for a New American Security. She told CBS News that there are different requirements for men and for women as well as for varying ages to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test, which every recruit must pass. The standards for joining the special forces are not gender-specific.
Kazminski stated that “these standards are uniform for both genders,” which is why there have been so few women in special operations.
As of early January 2016, according to Army data, 156 women had graduated the notoriously difficult Ranger Course. 381 women have taken the course since 2015 when it was made available for women. This represents a graduation rate around 41%.
To be successful at the Ranger Course, candidates must complete a 15-meter swim in full uniform and run 5 miles in less than 40 minutes. They also need to march 12 miles while carrying a 35-lb. ruck. The Army.
An Army official told CBS News that “the standards haven’t been lowered and every Ranger Course graduate is trained to the same standards.”
The Pentagon review could result in a change to the Army Combat Fitness Test, or generic test. This would ensure that the requirements for both men and women are the same.
The Army Combat Fitness Test is currently scored differently for men and women depending on their age. Men aged 17-21 must be able run at least two miles in 22 seconds, while women need to do the same in 23:22. Hand-release pushups, which require lifting your hands from the ground when you are at the bottom of a push-up, have the same minimum requirement for both men and women. It is 10.
In recent years, facing a recruitment crisis, the services have made adjustments to drug and tattoo policies, and offered enlistment bonus incentives in order to attract potential members. They still maintain physical and academic standards. Pre-enlistment boot camp was also introduced by the Army to help candidates prepare for basic training.
Hegseth told senators during his confirmation hearing, that while writing “War on Warriors”, he spoke with service members, who told him “in ways direct and indirect, overt or subtle” that standards had changed. Hegseth did not provide concrete examples.
Kuzminski said that the review by the secretary of defense could also include revisiting grooming guidelines, such as the Army’s allowing women to grow ponytails and the Navy allowing some men to grow facial hair due to medical conditions exacerbated when shaving.
Kuzminski explained that although they may seem insignificant, the standards were part of a larger initiative under Biden’s administration to make sure that minorities were not disproportionately affected by any standard.
Kuzminski said that reversing the backs of the uniforms may have an impact on recruitment or retention but that “everyone in uniform will adhere to the standards, no matter what they are.”
