Are you fit enough for the US Army? Check out the proposed new gender neutral rules

American defense secretary, Pete Hegseth eliminated the lower physical standards for women in combat units. He mandated that all physical fitness requirements for combat arms positions must be gender neutral, "based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary."
The 44-year-old also took to X to express his thoughts on "different physical standards for man and women in the U.S. military" writing, "All combat roles are open to men and women BUT they must all meet the same, high standard. No standards will be lowered AND all combat roles will only have sex-neutral standards. Common sense."
Each service has 60 days to submit reports to Hegseth's office. While earlier, the physical standards for men and women were slightly different, with Hegseth's orders, they are set to become the same. However, it is unclear whether new plans will be devised or whether women will have to match the standards set for men.
Currently, the U.S. Army uses the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to assess the physical fitness of soldiers. Both men and women take the test but have different performance standards based on their age and gender.
The Army Combat Fitness Test includes a variety of events such as 3 repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand release push-up- arm extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank and a two-mile run.
This event assesses the muscular strength of the soldier by measuring their lower body, grip and core muscular strength. They have to perform this using a 60-pound hex bar and plates.
Here, soldiers have to throw a 10-pound medicine ball backward and overhead for distance. It analyses their ability to generate quick, explosive movements with their upper and lower body.
Soldiers have to complete as many hand release push ups as they can in two minutes under this task. It assesses their upper body endurance.
Here, the soldiers have to conduct 5X50 meter shuttles for time- sprint, drag, lateral, carry and sprint. It analyses their muscular strength, anaerobic power and endurance.
Soldiers have to maintain a plank position for as long as they can in this task.
Soldiers have to run two miles on a measured and generally flat outdoor course.
The scoring scales for the test vary by age group and gender. There are age groups from 17-21, 22-26, 27-31, 32-36, 37-41, 42-46, 47-51, 52-56, 57-61 and over 62. In the age group of 17-21, men are expected to perform 340 max deadlifts to score a 100 points, whereas women are expected to perform 210. In standing power throw, men and women in the same age group have different performance expectations, with men set to complete the distance of 12.6 and women 8.4, to score 100 points. Such disparities exist throughout the scoring scales. With Hegseth's order, it seems he is aiming to rectify this difference and make it uniform.