Archive · 3 Oct 2025
Hegseth's Remarks on Fitness Standards: What Women Heard
A military leader named Pete Hegseth said he thinks women's fitness standards have gotten too low.
He believes women should be held to the same tough physical tests as men for combat jobs.
Some women who served in the military, like Bobbie Scholley and Kate Wilder, disagree.
They worked hard to meet the standards and felt Hegseth's comments were unfair and made it sound like women were given jobs without earning them.
They said they had to work really hard to get where they were and that the standards haven't changed for women.
They both met or exceeded the same physical fitness standards as men in their roles.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that women's physical fitness standards have declined in combat roles.
Hegseth advocated for women to meet the "highest male standard."
Retired Navy Captain Bobbie Scholley and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Kate Wilder expressed disagreement with Hegseth's statements.
Scholley and Wilder highlighted their experiences meeting high physical demands in the military.
Hegseth directed men and women in combat jobs to execute service fitness tests at a gender-neutral, age-normed male standard scored above 70%.
- Who
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and retired Navy Captain Bobbie Scholley
- What
- Hegseth made comments regarding women's fitness standards in combat roles.
- When
- Recent address
- Where
- Base in Virginia
- Why
- To address military leaders regarding fitness standards
Critics of Hegseth
Hegseth's Stance
Fitness Standards
Critics of Hegseth
Women in military service should not be perceived as having had standards lowered, rather meeting existing requirements.
Hegseth's Stance
Physical fitness standards for women have slipped and should be equivalent to male standards.
- Key Figure
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Event Location
- Base in Virginia
- Focus
- Physical fitness standards for women in combat
- Standards
- Gender-neutral, age-normed male standard above 70%