EXCERPT:
HEGSETH: “Today, at my direction, each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat MOS, for every designated combat arms position, returns to the highest male standard only. Because this job is life or death. Standards must be met. And not just met. At every level, we should seek to exceed the standard, to push the envelope, to compete. It’s common sense and core to who we are and what we do. It should be in our DNA. Today, at my direction, we’re also adding a combat field test for combat arms units that must be executable in any environment, at any time, and with combat equipment. These tests, they'll look familiar. They resemble the army expert physical fitness assessment or the marine corps combat fitness test. I’m also directing that war fighters in combat jobs execute their service fitness test at a gender neutral, age-normed male standard scored above 70 percent. It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the secretary of war can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force. Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops. Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad and it’s not who we are. So, whether you’re an airborne ranger or a chairborne ranger, a brand-new private or a four-star general, you need to meet the height and weight standards and pass your PT test. And as the chairman said, yes, there is no PT test. But today, at my direction, every member of the joint force, at every rank, is required to take a PT test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year, every year of service.”