Currently, for pretty much all run, carry, push-up, swim, etc tests, women aren’t held to the same standard as men.
Pete Hegseth said he wants to make it equal for all. I say touché. Does anyone on here actually back the leftist woke demand for unequal standards to get more women into the military?
When my oldest son went in about 25 years ago, Chemical Weapons Branch, it being a Combat Support MOS meant women could join also. Even then the Army had separate physical standards for both sexes; different type and number of push-ups, chin-ups, weight lifting, etc.. Point being that most women don't have muscle and upper body strength like men, so realistic expectations applied.
The real factor to apply is that the Combat Arms: Infantry, Armor, Artillery should remain male only. Aside from the physical strength needs of those jobs there also is the morale factor where it's bad enough to see your fellow guys mangled by combat weaponry, but to see fellow females also in such condition could be very bad for morale.
Also, in modern mechanized warfare, battle lines often are fluid and a supposed "Rear Area" could suddenly be focus of close in combat. Means even cooks, supply clerks mechanics, and truck drivers, etc. might need to dig a foxhole and be able to shoot a rifle. For the most part, females should ideally be assigned tasks that would keep them 20, better yet 30 miles behind the line of battle/contact.
We're talking most Army and Marines here. There's room for a bit more flex in some Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard jobs/MOS.
Either way, physical, mental, psychological standards should not be reduced to try and get numbers recruited. If there aren't enough to meet quotas, will just have to adjust for the shortfall. Troops need to be able to huck their ruck, use their weapons efficiently, march 20-30 miles a day, move fairly quick through rough terrain, dig a quick foxhole, drag a buddy by his harness out of a fire zone, and a lot of other very physically demanding tasks.
Of course, if USA is invaded, we might have to make adjustments down a bit to fill urgent needs.
