Hegseth orders 'fat generals' out of US military

Fat generals and overweight chair-born rangers are a bad look for the U.S. military

and we don't want them anymore. That's the message from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the nation's top brass

We now know why every active duty general and admiral in the United States military

was ordered to attend a presentation by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

It was not to sign a loyalty pledge like internet comment sections would have you believe

or prepare for war with China or Russia, but to outline the sect F's new vision for the Pentagon

one where the warriors' ethos can be unchained, where beardos and overweight officers are no

longer welcome. Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation

and see fat troops. Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals

in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It's a bad look

It is bad, and it's not who we are. So whether you're an airborne ranger or a chairborne ranger

a brand new private or a four-star general, you need to meet the height and weight standards and

pass your PT test. The height and weight standards to serve in the U.S. military, as well as the

physical fitness tests a service member must pass each year are a little different for each branch For the most part though if you signed up to be a sailor soldier marine airman guardian

or guardsman before the SECDEF's new standards kick in, you needed to be at least 4'10"

but not taller than 6'8". Your weight depended on your height, but most branches

said men with a BMI over 26% were too heavy, women with a 36% BMI were considered overweight

The Marine Corps is a little stricter when it comes to BMI, but the Secretary of Defense said

there would be one gender-neutral standard moving forward for each branch, based on the current

male standards. It's not clear yet how certain exemptions may be handled. For instance, the Navy

and Army have policies that say if a sailor or soldier passes their PT tests with high enough

marks, they don't necessarily need to meet the body fat standards. When officers turn 60 in the Army

they don't need to take the Army fitness test every year, but they still must maintain a doctor-approved

fitness program and meet the height-weight standards. And in certain cases, a service

member might be given a medical exemption for the height and weight requirements

When it comes to annual physical fitness tests again each branch does things a little differently In the Army the largest U service branch the fitness test includes a strength deadlift

standing power throw, push-ups, a sprint drag carry exercise, where the candidate runs through

an obstacle course while also dragging and carrying heavy items to simulate movement on

the battlefield. The Army PT test also includes a plank for as long as you can portion

and a two-mile run. All of this is expected to be completed in one 50-minute session

A soldier would get a passing grade if they could deadlift around 220 pounds three times

throw a 10-pound ball 25 feet, do about 35 push-ups, complete the sprint drag carry exercise

in about two minutes, then plank for three minutes, and run two miles in about 16 minutes

If they do more reps or throw the ball further or run faster, their grade goes up

If they do worse in those tests, they don't pass. Planking replaced sit-ups in most military fitness tests

Each of the other U.S. service branches also have some sort of push-up and or pull-up requirement

as well as a cardiovascular test involving running, swimming, even cycling. But each metric is adjusted based on the individual height weight age and up until now gender Depending on the job the service member performs there may be different standards as well

For instance, elite combat units like Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces already maintain gender-neutral standards

which are higher than the standards a radar operator might have to meet

Under the Hegseth policy shift, though, all branches will maintain gender neutral standards regardless of the job performed

We very much value the impact of female troops. Our female officers and NCOs are the absolute best in the world

But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral

If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for

some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result. So be it

In addition to outlining his vision for the U.S. military in terms of physical fitness

Hexeth also said members of the U.S. military are expected to be clean shaven

saying the era of unprofessional appearance is over. For more reporting like this, download the Straight Arrow News app today