The US Army has announced a bold policy that will enforce gender-neutral physical fitness standards for enlisted men and women serving in combat positions.
The changes, set to take effect starting June 1st, follow an order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for the elimination of gender-based fitness criteria in frontline military roles.
The new directive replaces the existing combat fitness test with a standardized assessment applicable to all soldiers, regardless of gender. The revised Army Fitness Test (AFT) features five events that test strength, endurance, and agility a deadlift, push-ups, a plank hold, a two-mile run, and a sprint-drag-carry drill.
One of the most significant impacts of this new policy will be seen in the physical demands now placed equally on women. For instance, the required deadlift weight increases from 120 pounds to 140 pounds for younger women. Additionally, female soldiers will now be required to complete the two-mile run nearly 90 seconds faster than before to meet the new standards.
While the army claims these updated benchmarks are intended to “enhance Soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force,” concerns have been raised over the feasibility of this approach.
Notably, a 2017 internal study advised that physiological differences between men and women should be addressed through targeted training — not equalized testing.
Similarly, a 2022 report from the Rand Corporation highlighted that women and older service members were failing previous versions of the test at much higher rates than their male and younger counterparts. This has cast doubt on whether the uniform standards could be counterproductive or even detrimental to overall military staffing levels.
Under the new system, combat soldiers must now earn at least 60 points in each event, with a total minimum score of 350 points to qualify. Soldiers who fail the test twice consecutively may face reassignment to non-combat roles or possible dismissal from service altogether, according to Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax.
Interestingly, non-combat roles will still follow age- and gender-based scoring, underscoring the selective application of the new rules. Full implementation details are expected in May, with active-duty soldiers given until January 2026 to meet the new benchmarks. Reserve and National Guard personnel will have until June 2026.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, known for his controversial stance on women in combat, has previously expressed skepticism about female soldiers’ ability to meet the same physical standards as men.
Despite later moderating his view, his earlier comments including the assertion that “mothers were needed, but not in the military” remain a point of contention.
