Defense Secretary Pete Hegses ordered a Pentagon-wide review of physical fitness, body composition and grooming standards currently being implemented in the military.
Hegseth's orders have been lifted after the Biden administration relaxed restrictions on various grooming and hairstyle rules for military service members. Body fat percentage requirements For new recruits.
“The high standards have made the US military the largest combat unit on the planet,” Heggs wrote. Note He became a senior leader of the Pentagon, a combatant commander, and a director of local activities at the Department of Defense.
“The strength of our military is our unity and our common purpose,” the Secretary of Defense added. “We are high, uncompromising, with clear standards, stronger and more disciplined.”
This review will be conducted by the Pentagon for personnel and preparation under the Secretary of Defense and consider “existing standards set by the military sector related to physical fitness, body composition and grooming for the whiskers.”
“This review also provides insight into why these standards have changed and the impact of those changes,” Hegseth said. “USD (P&R) has the authority to leave it to the military department and other DOD component heads as necessary to provide the information necessary to support this review, providing detailed guidance to the military department.”
“We must remain vigilant about maintaining the standards that enable men and women in our military to protect Americans and their homelands as the world's most deadly and effective combat forces,” the Pentagon chief continued. “Our work is not challenging because our enemies are not weak.”
“This review reveals the levels of standards required in the recent past and how they maintain the trajectory of changes to those standards.”
Each branch of the military sets its own standards for physical fitness and body composition, and has mandatory instructions for the type of haircut and the members of facial hair services.
For example, beards are generally prohibited from armed services unless members receive medical exemptions or religious accommodation.
Under the Biden administration, the Army relaxed various grooming standards. Allow women to wear earrings, hair highlights and dyes, allowing men to wear nail polish.
The Air Force allowed former President Joe Biden to increase body fat by up to 26% from the previous 20% requirement, while women were allowed to gain body fat from up to 28% to 36% before.
At a City Hall event for Pentagon employees last month, Heggs said under the Trump administration, DOD will focus on “basics” such as grooming and fitness standards.
“I'm not saying you're a criminal if you're violating grooming standards,” Heggs said. “The analogy is incomplete. But when you violate the smallest and allow it to happen, it creates a culture where the big ones are not responsible for it.”
