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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of military standards, including physical fitness, body composition and grooming.
The Pentagon released a memo last week from Hegseth that directs the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness to review the existing standards set by the military departments.
"We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force," Hegseth said in March 12 press release.
"Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging," he added. “This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards."
Hegseth was more blunt in a post on X, former Twitter: "Our troops will be fit — not fat. Our troops will look sharp — not sloppy. We seek only quality — not quotas. BOTTOM LINE: our @DeptofDefense will make standards HIGH & GREAT again — across the entire force."
He promised the review during his confirmation hearing when questioned about his statements he has made that military standards have eroded.
"That will be part of one of the first things we do at the Pentagon — is reviewing that in a gender-neutral way — the standards ensuring readiness and meritocracy is front and center," he Hegseth said in January.
Some services have relaxed restrictions on haircuts, facial hair and body composition requirements to boost recruiting and retention.
Changes included allowing women to wear earrings, men to use nail polish, and increasing the allowable body fat percentage for new Air Force recruits, from 20% to 26% for men and from 28% to 36% for women.
Each branch of the military currently sets its own fitness and grooming standards, with some variations in requirements.
The Air Force tightened dress and grooming standards earlier this year.
The updates affected duty identifier patches, nail polish, male facial hair including beards, male hair standards and using a "Gig Line" while wearing dress uniforms.
"Complying with and enforcing standards demonstrates shared commitment to our winning team, as well as an understanding of the gravity of our profession in today’s volatile security environment," said Gen. David W. Allvin, the Air Force chief of staff, in announcing the changes.
— By John Goheen
