U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has signed a new policy that requires all branches of the military to eliminate gender-based standards for combat roles. The announcement came while Hegseth was returning from a defense tour in Japan.
The memorandum he signed calls for each military service to review and adjust its combat standards, ensuring that no variations exist based on whether a service member is male or female. Hegseth made the announcement in a video shared while flying back to Washington.
C’mon. Nearly 70% of US troops are overweight or obese, research report says | Stars and Stripes https://t.co/BF265Qu0pg
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) March 16, 2025
He said the military had allowed uneven standards to take hold in recent years and that those policies would no longer be tolerated. Combat arms roles, he said, demand a single high bar — and that bar will now apply to everyone.
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! pic.twitter.com/Zn9OyBew6G
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) March 31, 2025
“We need to have the same standard, male or female,” Hegseth stated. He added that ensuring strong leadership in combat depends on holding everyone to that standard, not tailoring expectations based on sex.
I'm tired of seeing dishonest individuals crying "sexism" for these three fat lazy Teletubbies who couldn't pass a physical fitness test if their life depended on it. Not meeting standards in the military will cost lives. There is zero excuse for obesity in the military. https://t.co/GvBvHVgvhd pic.twitter.com/dXx46MJqYl
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) March 21, 2025
The move signals a renewed focus on combat capability over political trends. Hegseth made clear that the change is not just symbolic — it directs a formal review and overhaul of military standards across the armed services.
The decision was announced as Hegseth returned from meetings with U.S. troops and regional partners in the Indo-Pacific. The policy aligns with efforts to restore deterrence abroad and raise expectations at home.
The memorandum signed Sunday directs immediate action from the services to ensure enforcement of the new equal standard requirement in all combat arms roles.
