US army to test enlisted men and women with same physical standards

Change to requirements to serve in combat roles expected to drastically cut number of women

The US army unveiled plans on Monday to require a fitness test with identical physical standards for men and women in combat positions after the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, ordered the elimination of gender-based fitness requirements in frontline roles.

The revamped army fitness test, which replaces the combat fitness test, will be sex-neutral" and force female soldiers in 21 combat specialties to meet the same benchmarks as men - a change expected to drastically cut the number of women qualifying for these positions.