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Defense Secretary Orders Review of Military Fitness Standards

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 12 ordered a review of the U.S. military’s fitness standards and grooming requirements.

Hegseth in a memorandum directed officials to compile the existing standards for military departments on physical fitness, body composition, and grooming for evaluation.

The under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness must review how the standards have changed since Jan. 1, 2015, according to Hegseth, and provide insight into why the standards changed and what impact they have had.

“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force,” Hegseth said.

“Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards.”

The military said the review would be undertaken rapidly but did not provide a timeline for the project.

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