Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive prompts significant changes to the Army's physical fitness requirements.

According to Daily Caller, the U.S. Army announced Monday new guidelines that establish equal fitness standards for men and women serving in combat Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), with implementation beginning June 1 and full adoption expected by January 2026.

The revised Army Fitness Test (AFT), previously known as the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), marks a significant shift in military physical assessment protocols.

While combat roles will now have uniform standards regardless of gender, non-combat positions will maintain gender-specific guidelines.

Major changes to combat fitness assessment

The updated fitness test has undergone substantial modifications beyond gender requirement adjustments. Military officials have removed the standing power throw exercise, which previously required soldiers to throw a 10-pound medicine ball backwards over their head.

The new standards mandate that all personnel in combat MOS positions must achieve a minimum total score of 350 points across five events. Each event requires a minimum score of 60 points to pass.

Army spokesperson Matt Ahearn emphasized the strategic importance of the new standards, stating:

The five-event Army Fitness Test is designed to increase warfighting readiness, reduce injury risk, and enhance the physical performance of the force. The AFT introduces a higher, sex-neutral and age-normed standard for 21 combat specialties, aligning fitness requirements with operational demands.

Implementation timeline and policy framework

The Army has developed a comprehensive support system to facilitate the transition to the new standards. This includes assistance for soldiers with medical profiles and mechanisms to monitor the impact on readiness and retention rates.

Defense Secretary Hegseth shared his perspective on the policy change through social media platform X:

For far too long, we have allowed standards to slip. We've had different standards for men/women serving in combat arms [Military Occupational Specialty] MOS's and jobs.... That's not acceptable, and it changes right now!

The military plans to closely track the effects of these changes on overall force readiness and operational capabilities during the implementation period.

Looking forward to a stronger military force

The U.S. Army's decision to standardize fitness requirements for combat roles represents a pivotal moment in military physical assessment history. The change aligns with Defense Secretary Hegseth's March 31 directive for equal standards across all armed forces combat positions.

The implementation of the new Army Fitness Test, scheduled to begin June 1, will affect 21 combat specialties throughout the force.

With completion targeted for January 2026, this policy change demonstrates the military's commitment to maintaining high operational standards while ensuring equal treatment of all combat personnel regardless of gender.