All articles tagged with #gender neutral standards
Female veterans and critics have challenged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claims that military standards were lowered to allow women in combat roles, emphasizing that combat standards have always been gender-neutral and that his comments misrepresent the facts. The debate centers on whether standards are equal and how diversity efforts impact military readiness.
Pete Hegseth announced a crackdown on diversity initiatives in the US military, emphasizing high, gender-neutral physical standards, professional appearance, and a focus on combat readiness, while criticizing what he calls 'woke' policies and promoting a return to traditional warrior ethos.
Both the House and Senate have proposed changes to the Army's fitness test. The House Armed Services Committee introduced an amendment for the Army to implement gender-neutral standards for soldiers serving in combat arms, while the Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision to revert back to the old Army Physical Fitness Test. Army planners were already considering gender-neutral standards for combat jobs. The draft NDAA will undergo negotiations before reaching President Biden's desk. The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was introduced last year and replaced the previous fitness test, measuring six events.