Pete Hegseth orders rigorous review of military standards

In recent months, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has instructed a reevaluation of fitness and grooming standards for the U.S. military. This review follows concerns that current practices may be compromising the military’s effectiveness as a global fighting force. The evaluation is aimed at establishing how standards have shifted since January 1, 2015, potentially revealing any erosion in fitness requirements due to recruitment pressures or other factors. Hegseth's initiative underscores the administration's desire to reverse policies perceived as weakening military readiness. He has highlighted the necessity for high standards to ensure that the military can effectively protect American interests. The review will particularly assess standards concerning physical fitness, body composition, and grooming regulations across all military branches. The imperative to maintain a formidable military presence has been brought into sharper focus, with Hegseth emphasizing that adversaries are not diminishing in strength. This examination of standards is expected to illuminate any recent changes, explore their rationale, and analyze their impact on military readiness. The Secretary's memo also expresses intentions to eliminate what he terms