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.
I work in orthopedics and rehabilitation, we see a lot of military members because we have a couple different bases in our state and only have one large medical campus close to them.
I have had more active duty military in my clinic this year than the last couple years combined. Most of them are senior NCO or older officers who have been forced to do an exercise routine that is designed to challenge people half their age.
Past a certain age, you just need more recovery time than younger people. These guys basically had desk jobs, and now they are having to exercise 5 days a week. Of course you are going to acquire a bunch of injuries in your senior ranks. Been seeing a ton of overuse injuries for the foot, ankle, and knees.
They’ll retire earlier with higher disability checks. Unplanned retirements may cause gaps in institutional knowledge.