Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is shaking things up by demanding equal physical standards for men and women in combat roles. This new policy scraps lowered requirements that hurt military readiness. It’s a bold move to restore toughness after years of weak standards under the Biden administration.
Hegseth signed a memo ordering the military to adopt sex-neutral fitness rules for combat jobs. Soldiers must now meet the same pull-up, running, and strength benchmarks regardless of gender. No more special treatment—everyone earns their place through raw ability. This ensures troops trust their leaders and teammates to handle life-or-death situations.
The Biden team had let standards slide to push diversity quotas. Lowering the bar for women created divisions in units. Men questioned if female soldiers truly earned their roles. Hegseth’s fix removes the asterisk next to women’s achievements. Now, every soldier knows their comrades passed the same grueling tests.
Chris Plante’s panel on The Right Squad praised the change. They called it a win against “woke” policies that put feelings over national security. Troops in combat zones don’t get participation trophies. Enemies won’t go easy on us just because we lowered our standards. Toughness matters when facing China or terrorists.
Recruitment numbers tanked under Biden as young Americans saw the military becoming a social experiment. Under President Trump, enlistment is rising again. Restoring high standards makes the military a career worth pursuing. Parents can feel proud sending their kids to serve a serious fighting force.
Democrats attacked Hegseth during his confirmation hearings, claiming he opposed women in the military. But his goal isn’t exclusion—it’s ensuring every soldier is tested equally. Women who meet the same benchmarks as men will earn greater respect. They’ll know they’re trusted to handle combat’s brutal realities.
Some critics whine this policy is “unfair” to women. But facts don’t care about feelings. Biology means most men will outperform women in raw strength. That’s why standards must stay focused on battlefield survival, not gender politics. Troops need leaders who can drag them to safety under fire.
This reform proves America’s military prioritizes winning over political correctness. Our enemies respect strength, not weakness. Hegseth’s leadership is rebuilding a force ready to crush threats worldwide. Soldiers deserve commanders who value their lives enough to demand excellence—no exceptions.