In response to recent changes in military regulations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of the U.S. military’s fitness standards, body composition, and grooming guidelines. This review, which began on March 12, comes after the Biden administration made significant adjustments to various military rules, including those related to body fat percentage, hairstyle, and grooming for service members.
‘High standards make US military greatest’
In a memo to the Department of Defense, Hegseth emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards to preserve the effectiveness and strength of the U.S. military. “High standards are what made the United States military the greatest fighting force on the planet,” he wrote. “The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose. We are made stronger and more disciplined with high, uncompromising, and clear standards.”
The review, which will be conducted by the Pentagon under the Secretary of Defense, is aimed at examining the current standards set by various military departments concerning physical fitness, body composition, and grooming. The review will also assess how these standards have evolved over the past decade, with a particular focus on the changes made under the current administration.
Examining recent changes and their impact
Hegseth made it clear that the review would go beyond just physical standards. “The review will also provide insight on why those standards changed and the impact of those changes,” he said. “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.”
The Defence Secretary also noted that the U.S. military’s adversaries are not becoming weaker, and the challenges faced by service members are only growing. “Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging,” Hegseth said. “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.”
Relaxed grooming and fitness standards under the Biden administration
The review comes in the wake of changes made during the Biden administration aimed at making the military more inclusive. These changes included relaxed grooming standards, allowing women to wear earrings and dye their hair, while men were given permission to wear nail polish. Additionally, the administration raised the permissible body fat percentages for new recruits in the U.S. Air Force — from 20% to 26% for males and from 28% to 36% for females.
Under the new regulations, the grooming guidelines were relaxed, allowing for more personal expression in the military. While most branches have strict regulations about haircuts and facial hair, service members have been granted some flexibility, particularly for women and those seeking religious or medical exemptions for facial hair.
Focus on fitness and accountability
Despite these changes, Hegseth has made it clear that he is prioritizing “basic stuff” like fitness and grooming under the current review. “I’m not saying if you violate grooming standards, you’re a criminal,” Hegseth remarked last month. “The analogy is incomplete. But if you violate the small stuff and you allow it to happen, it creates a culture where the big stuff, you’re not held accountable for.”
This renewed focus on military standards follows a broader trend in the Department of Defence under Hegseth’s leadership, which aims to balance inclusivity with maintaining the discipline and readiness required for military operations.
Each branch of the U.S. military currently has its specific regulations regarding physical fitness, body composition, and grooming. While body fat standards and the rules around facial hair and grooming have become points of contention in recent years, the overarching goal remains the same: to maintain a military force that is both capable and disciplined enough to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex global security environment.
