Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledges sweeping reforms to height, weight, and PT standards, promising gender-neutral criteria tied to combat readiness.
QUANTICO, Va. | In a striking departure from traditional Pentagon rhetoric, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an uncompromising address to senior U.S. military leaders Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico, lambasting what he called “fat troops” and “woke” policies that have weakened readiness.
Hegseth announced a sweeping overhaul of fitness, grooming, and combat standards, pledging to restore requirements to the highest levels. He vowed to issue 10 new department directives, the first mandating that all combat Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) return to male-standard benchmarks — standards he said reflect “life-or-death” conditions in combat.
“It all starts with physical fitness and appearance,” Hegseth declared. “Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations and see fat troops. If the Secretary of War can do hard PT every day, so can every member of the joint force.”
Fitness Standards to be Enforced Twice Yearly
Under the new policy, every service member must meet height and weight standards twice annually, pass a physical fitness test every six months, and conduct daily PT during duty hours. The Pentagon is also implementing a combat field test for combat arms units, designed to replicate real-world operational stress in any environment, with full combat gear.
Reversal of Post-2015 Gender-Based Adjustments
Hegseth explicitly targeted changes enacted since 2015 that allowed women into elite combat roles. He ordered an “immediate review” of all standards that were altered for gender or racial inclusion, insisting they be restored to original levels.
“When it comes to any job that requires physical power, standards must be high and gender-neutral. If women make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is,” Hegseth said.
Grooming Standards and Religious Freedom Debate
Hegseth also pledged a crackdown on grooming, banning beards, long hair, and “individual expression.” The order drew pushback from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which demanded assurances that religious accommodations for Muslim, Sikh, and Jewish service members remain protected.
Pushback from Advocacy Groups
The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) criticized the initiative, warning that dismissing diversity and inclusion undermines national security.
“Our diversity is not a vulnerability — it is our single greatest strategic advantage,” SWAN said, citing studies that gender-integrated units demonstrate stronger problem-solving abilities despite differences in physical performance.
Strategic Litmus Test
Hegseth closed his remarks with a personal benchmark: whether he would want his own son to join today’s formations.
“If the answer is ‘no’ or even ‘yes, but,’ then we’re doing something wrong,” he said.
The Pentagon has not yet released the full list of directives, but officials expect additional measures in the coming weeks. The speech marked one of the most pointed critiques of U.S. military culture by a sitting Defense Secretary in decades, setting the stage for contentious debates over readiness, equality, and national defense priorities.
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-- By James W. Thomas
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