US Military’s Fitness Standards for Combat Roles

The US military mandates that all combat personnel meet what is referred to as a “highest male standard” across its service branches.

The directive emphasizes that each service must ensure that all requirements for military occupational specialties are met. There’s a strong focus on achieving or exceeding these standards. As one official stated, everyone must work hard to push the limits because satisfaction comes at every competitive level.

“It’s just common sense, really. It’s part of our identity and mission,” he remarked.

While this move doesn’t explicitly reduce the number of women in combat positions, the implications could lead to fewer women qualifying. The official acknowledged this possibility, remarking, “If women can meet the standards, that’s fantastic. If not, it’s just the way it is.” He stressed that the military is serious about qualifications, noting that “weak men” also wouldn’t pass because combat is a matter of life and death.

Each service branch has established its own fitness tests that members need to pass.

The Army’s assessment comprises five events, which include maximum deadlifts, hand-release push-ups, sprint drag carry, boarding, as well as a two-mile run. Soldiers designated in specific combat specialties must accrue at least 350 points overall, with each event requiring a minimum of 60 points.

For instance, males aged 17-21 must deadlift a minimum of 220 pounds to earn 75 points, while women of the same age need to lift 120 pounds for 60 points.

Just recently, the Air Force rolled out a new physical assessment, which uses a 100-point system across four categories: Waist to Height Ratio, Strength, and Muscle Core Endurance. It includes various strength exercises, such as push-ups and abdominal workouts.

In this new system, men under 25 gain full points by completing 67 push-ups in one minute; women under the same age need to complete 47 push-ups for the same points. Previously, the pass mark for women was set lower, but this is expected to change under new guidelines that could double the standard.

The Navy’s physical fitness assessment requires checks for height and weight, as well as two-minute push-ups and a mile-and-a-half run. For men aged 17-19, completing 46 push-ups in two minutes is required, while women need to do 20 push-ups.

The expected run times also differ; men are expected to complete the mile-and-a-half in 12:15 minutes, whereas women have a requirement of 14:45 minutes.

Lastly, the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test consists of pull-ups or push-ups, board holds, and a timed three-mile run. Historically, the standards for men and women have varied, such as requiring men to finish the run within 28 minutes compared to the 31 minutes set for women.