Last year, Hegseth introduced new sex-neutral fitness standards that sought to eliminate sex-based grading for combat soldiers on the military’s physical fitness exam. That exam includes a 3-mile run, push-ups or pull-ups, and an abdominal plank. When the standards were announced, some analysts worried it could lead to fewer women enlisting.

But a new report from The War Horse, a nonprofit newsroom, suggests that Hegseth’s new standards were not making the military more masculine, as he seemed to hope. The report found that 90% of female Marines in combat roles who took the fitness test passed or exceeded expectations.

  • velma@sh.itjust.worksOP
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    2 days ago

    I’d be curious to know if it was lower standards or different standards before this change.

    • PattyMcB@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      20+ years ago (so, grain of salt), the minimums on the fitness tests were different for men and women. Also for service members over a certain age.