Controversy Over Physical Fitness Test Gender Standards Spreads in US Military: "Standards Should Be the Same for Men and Women"

U.S. Secretary of Defense: "Fitness Standards Will Be Gender-Neutral"
Concerns Rise Over Mass Failure of Female Combat Soldiers in Fitness Test

The U.S. Army conducting the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). U.S. Army website

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced plans to strengthen the U.S. military's physical fitness test, which had previously required relatively lower standards for female soldiers, by applying the same standards to both male and female soldiers. Hegseth's remarks have reignited the long-standing controversy over gender disparities in the military fitness test that has persisted for over a decade. While this measure may somewhat quell complaints from male soldiers who have raised concerns about gender disparities, it is expected that a significant number of the thousands of female soldiers already serving in combat arms will fail the fitness test, raising concerns about potential losses in combat strength.

U.S. Secretary of Defense: "We Will Correct Different Fitness Standards for Men and Women"

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense. Photo by EPA and Yonhap News Agency

On the 31st of last month (local time), Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum to apply the same physical fitness standards to all U.S. military personnel in combat arms, regardless of gender. Until now, the U.S. Army's combat fitness test (AFCT) applied different standards for men and women, considering physical differences, but this will change to a uniform standard for all soldiers.

Through his social media account on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary Hegseth stated, "During the Obama administration, combat arms were opened to both men and women, but different physical fitness standards were maintained for each gender. Today, we correct that. Both men and women must meet the same high physical fitness standards, and all combat arms will have gender-neutral standards. This is common sense," he emphasized.

Military.com, a U.S. defense media outlet, quoted a Department of Defense official saying, "Secretary Hegseth intends to raise the general physical fitness standards for soldiers in combat arms and include stringent conditions such as health, body composition, and uniform regulations." If these conditions are all included in the combat arms soldiers' fitness test, it is expected that female soldiers will face increased point deductions.

Previously, Secretary Hegseth sparked controversy by stating that women should be banned from serving in combat arms. In November last year, during an appearance on the popular U.S. podcast The Sean Hannity Show, he said, "When men and women serve together, the situation becomes complicated, and complexity in combat means more casualties. Women are life-givers, not life-takers. They should not be in infantry battalions."

65% of Female Soldiers Failed New Fitness Test Introduced in 2020... Concerns Over Combat Troop Shortages

U.S. Army Homepage

Secretary Hegseth's measures have reignited the controversy over gender disparities in the U.S. military's fitness test. This controversy has continued since 2018, when the military changed its fitness test system to the current AFCT. At that time, the military introduced the AFCT system to raise the fitness standards for soldiers in combat arms in response to increased casualties in the Afghanistan war, initially applying the same standards to both men and women.

However, as the fitness standards were raised sharply, the failure rate among female soldiers increased significantly. About 10% of male soldiers failed the test, while 65% of female soldiers failed, intensifying the controversy. Since the military fitness test is a critical factor for evaluations, promotions, and contract renewals for enlisted personnel, female soldiers protested that they were at a relative disadvantage. Consequently, the Department of Defense separated the fitness standards by gender again starting in 2021.

Some express concerns that if the fitness standards are again applied equally to both genders, many female soldiers in combat arms may be discharged, leading to a loss of combat strength. As of the end of last year, approximately 4,800 female soldiers were serving in combat arms such as infantry and artillery. Women make up 17.5% of the total U.S. military force.