The United States Army confirmed this week their plan to reduce “physical fitness requirements” for women and older soldiers after a three-year review of the Pentagon’s enlistment process.
“Following a three-year review, the Army has scrapped plans to use the same physical fitness test for all soldiers, choosing instead to have some reduced standards to allow women and older soldiers to pass, the service announced Wednesday,” reports The Hill.
The new guidelines are the first substantial change to physical fitness requirements in four decades.
I'm extremely proud of the 185,000 women who serve with distinction every single day in the @USArmy. There have been millions who have served in every single conflict since the Revolutionary War and I could not be more proud and honored to serve with them. pic.twitter.com/TFOILRYZaf
— U.S. Army Chief of Staff (@ArmyChiefStaff) March 18, 2022
Army approves reduced physical fitness standards for women and older soldiers https://t.co/37nbCZgb9v pic.twitter.com/cBZ5pLHwgM
— The Hill (@thehill) March 24, 2022
“This test is an essential part of maintaining the readiness of the Army as we transform into the Army of 2030,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a statement. “The revisions to the ACFT are based on data and analysis, including an independent assessment required by Congress. We will continue to assess our implementation of the test to ensure it is fair and achieves our goal of strengthening the Army’s fitness culture.”
Read the full report here.