Pentagon codifies sweeping military fitness standards with male-based combat arms requirements
The Pentagon published new fitness regulations effective August 31, 2026, codifying changes ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Active-duty troops must take two fitness tests per year, with combat arms personnel in over 80 occupations held to male-based standards and a 70% average score. Body composition uses a waist-to-height ratio below 0.55. The policy provides 12-month postpartum exemptions and requires daily physical training time. The changes coincide with a controversial Pentagon review of women in combat roles.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page reads the event directly, while its address stays stable when the title changes.
- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Reporting timeline
Pentagon codifies new fitness standards across military branches with combat arms changes
The Pentagon has published sweeping new fitness regulations, effective August 31, 2026, codifying changes ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The policy mandates two fitness tests per year for active-duty troops and one for Guard and Reserve members, with combat arms personnel held to male-based standards and required to score 70% average across events. Over 80 occupations across Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are designated as combat arms. Body composition testing occurs twice annually for active duty, with a waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55. The policy provides 12-month exemptions from testing after childbirth, miscarriage or stillbirth. Commanders must allow daily physical fitness training time. Starting June 2027, services must submit detailed fitness data reports to the Pentagon. The changes have unfolded alongside a Pentagon review of women in front-line combat roles, which critics question for independence after being transferred to a researcher involved in a controversial 2015 study Hegseth has cited against women in combat.
Read sourcePentagon codifies new fitness standards across military branches with combat arms changes
The Pentagon has published sweeping new fitness regulations, codifying changes ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in 2025. The policy, effective August 31, 2026, mandates two fitness tests per year for active-duty troops, with combat arms personnel held to male-based standards and required to score an average of 70% across events. Non-combat roles retain sex and age-based scoring. Body composition testing occurs twice annually for active-duty members, with a waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55. The policy provides a minimum 12-month exemption from testing after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. It also requires commanders to allow daily physical fitness training time. The changes coincide with a Pentagon review of women in front-line combat roles, which critics question for its independence. The regulations replace the 2022 fitness policy and include tracking mechanisms for results across services.
Pentagon codifies sweeping fitness standards across military branches
The Pentagon has published new regulations codifying sweeping changes to military fitness requirements, effective August 31, 2026. The policy, incorporating directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued in 2025, mandates two fitness tests per year for active-duty troops and one for Guard and Reserve members. Troops in over 80 designated combat arms occupations must meet male-based standards and score an average of 70% on regular service tests, while non-combat roles retain sex- and age-based scoring. A new Combat Field Test (CFT) is required for combat arms personnel, and a Combat Readiness Test (CRT) for others. Body composition standards now use a waist-to-height ratio of less than 0.55, with a minimum 12-month exemption after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Commanders must allow daily physical fitness time. Starting June 1, 2027, each service must submit detailed fitness data to the Pentagon for analysis by sex, age, race, ethnicity, rank, and military occupation. The changes have unfolded alongside a controversial Pentagon review of women in front-line combat roles.
Read sourceShow 2 older updatesHide older updates
Pentagon codifies sweeping fitness standards across military branches
The Pentagon has published new regulations codifying sweeping changes to military fitness requirements, effective August 31, 2026. The policy, driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directives from fall 2025, establishes standardized testing timelines, combat arms fitness standards, and body composition rules across all service branches. Active-duty troops must take two fitness tests per year, while National Guard and Reserve members take one. Troops in over 80 designated combat arms occupations (infantry, armor, artillery, special forces) must meet male-based standards and score at least 70% average across events. Non-combat roles retain sex and age-based scoring. Body composition testing occurs twice yearly for active duty, with a mandatory waist-to-height ratio below 0.55. The policy provides 12-month exemptions from testing after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Commanders must allow daily physical fitness training time. Starting June 2027, each service must submit detailed fitness data reports to the Pentagon. The changes coincide with a Pentagon review of women in front-line combat roles, which critics question for potential bias.
Read sourcePentagon codifies sweeping fitness standards across military branches
The Pentagon has published new regulations codifying sweeping changes to military fitness requirements, some ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last fall. The policy, effective Aug. 31, specifies testing timelines, standards for combat arms personnel, and guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum fitness. Active-duty troops must take two fitness tests per year, including a combat readiness assessment. Troops in over 80 designated combat arms occupations will be held to male-based standards and must score an average of 70% across events. Body composition testing will occur twice annually for active-duty members, with a waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55. The policy provides a minimum 12-month exemption from testing after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Commanders are required to allow time for physical fitness every duty day. The changes have unfolded alongside a Pentagon review of women in front-line combat roles, which critics question for its independence. The new document replaces the Pentagon's 2022 fitness policy.
Read source