Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders overhaul of US military standards that will leave women fuming

Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to make fitness standards for all combat jobs gender neutral, angering many women who see the move as unfair.

In a new memo, the defense secretary told leaders of the military services to distinguish which jobs are considered combat arms - such as special operations or infantry, and require 'heightened entry level and sustained physical fitness' - and which are not.

The memo released Monday said all physical fitness requirements for those combat arms positions must be gender neutral, 'based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary.'

Hegseth introduced the new standards in an X post, writing: 'For far too long, we have allowed standards to slip. We've had different standards for men/women serving in combat arms MOS's and jobs…. That's not acceptable, and it changes right now!'

On social media, the response from many women was extremely negative.

Maria Cardona wrote: 'Your appointment and confirmation is the lowest the standards have slipped in the history of our republic!'

Heather Thomas added: 'Dude, you are the Slipped Standards poster child.' 

'Wait until folks find out there are different standards for age, too,' said Casey Lohrenz. 'Are we eliminating all age standards?'

The reaction wasn't entirely negative, with some suggesting that this was always inevitable once women were allowed to have combat arms.

'I predicted it would lead to unequal (and lowered) standards — which would undermine readiness and lethality. Finally we have a [Defense Secretary] who gets that and will right the ship,' wrote third-generation army veteran Virginia Kruta.

The new order expands on a memo Hegseth put out March 12 that said the undersecretary for personnel must gather information on military standards 'pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards.'

Both reflect Hegseth's public complaints about fitness standards well before he took on the Pentagon job. 

While working as a Fox News commentator, Hegseth spoke about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women.

Hegseth's opposition — stated in his book and interviews — was simple and direct before his nomination on Nov. 12. But, in the face of questions from Congress, he appears to have altered his stance.

'I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective. Hasn't made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,' he said in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on Nov. 7.

Women have a place in the military, he said, just not in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units.

In his book, he said women have performed well in dangerous support roles during war, but 'women in the infantry — women in combat on purpose — is another story.' 

He adds, 'women cannot physically meet the same standards as men.'

The secretary added, 'Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units.'

His views riled some members of Congress.

Asked about the issue on the 'Megyn Kelly Show' in early December, Hegseth said he cares only that military standards are maintained. 

Women serve in combat, he said, and, 'if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let's go.'

Questioned aggressively about his stance on women in combat by senators Tuesday, Hegseth said he supports women in the military but wants to review military standards to make sure they are not lowered to accommodate women.

He explained the change between his previous comments and his new statements by saying that 'writing a book is different than being secretary of defense.'

The order, however, could require some complicated assessments as all the services go through their jobs and determine which should be considered combat arms. 

For example, which sailors on a Navy warship deployed to the Middle East and being fired on by the Houthi rebels should be considered in a combat post.

On smaller ships, it's not unusual for sailors to perform a number of different tasks, including firing weapons. 

The military has long had what is largely a two-part system for physical fitness standards.

One is routine annual fitness tests with different requirements based on gender and age

The other is more grueling standards for specific combat, special operations, infantry, armor, pararescue jumpers and other jobs that are the same for everyone in that occupation, and are not adjusted for age or gender.

Hegseth's memo appears to focus on the second grouping - arguing that combat jobs require more stringent fitness standards.

Already, however, specific military jobs like special operations, infantry, armor and pararescue require different, higher-level physical - and often mental and psychological - tests, requirements and qualification courses.

Those standards require everyone to meet the same requirements, regardless of their age or gender. 

For example, an Army soldier who wants to be a Green Beret or a Ranger, or a sailor who wants to be a Navy SEAL, must pass grueling monthslong qualification courses.

Also, after the Pentagon allowed women to be in all combat jobs, the Army set specific fitness standards for each military occupation that are the same regardless of age or gender.

Recruits who want to serve in an infantry or armor job must pass a specific physical assessment that has higher, more significant demands in order to sign a contract for that specialty.

Similarly, Marines also require more extensive fitness standards for their special operations forces and combat jobs.

Hegseth's memo mentions higher fitness requirements for special operations forces - which already exist. 

And it says Navy divers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians also should be required to have proficiency in tasks such as water rescue and demolition, which they already do.

The order gives service leaders 60 days to provide their proposed changes. They have 30 days to provide an interim report.

'As the nature of warfare evolves and the demands on our service members grow more complex, it is imperative that we assess and refine the physical fitness standards that enable our readiness and lethality,' Hegseth said in the memo.