Will The Army’s New Gender-neutral Fitness Test Hurt Women In Combat Roles?

The Army is implementing caller gender-neutral fittingness test standards for work members successful combat roles. Beginning June 1, some men and women successful 21 combat specialty positions will person to assistance nan aforesaid weights, decorativeness events successful nan aforesaid time, and yet execute nan same minimum scores to pass. 

Previously, passing scores were gender-specific, truthful women could assistance lighter weights and decorativeness pinch slower times, but nary more. The men’s standard is nan caller minimum for everyone. 

The mobility is: Will this forestall women from qualifying for combat positions? 

SAN compared nan caller standards to nan mean scores of erstwhile years to find out. We’re utilizing nan mean scores for each Army and National Guard positions, truthful these averages see those successful noncombat roles who person little standards. We’re besides utilizing a people floor plan for 17 to 21-year-olds. The standards will stay age-specific. 

To pass, work members request a minimum 60 points for each event. These mean scores were compiled by Military.com.

Here’s really nan womens’ mean people compares:

Deadlift:

• Average weight lifted: 155 pounds 
• Points connected women’s scale: 83
• Points connected men’s scale: 66
• Verdict: Pass

Plank:

• Average clip held: 2:22 
• Points connected women’s scale: 76 
• Points connected men’s scale: 76 
• Verdict: Pass

2-mile run: 

• Average decorativeness time: 20:40 
• Points connected women’s scale: 70 
• Points connected men’s scale: 62 
• Verdict: Pass

The caller minimum clip is 22:00, truthful astatine nan existent mean time, women person 1:20 to spare. 

Sprint, drag, carry: 

• Average decorativeness time: 2:25 
• Points connected women’s scale: 82 
• Points connected men’s scale: 60 
• Verdict: Pass

The caller modular for women successful combat is 2:28 

Hand merchandise pushup:

• Average: 29 successful 2 minutes
• Points connected women’s scale: 83  
• Points connected men’s scale: 71 
• Verdict: Pass

Women successful nan Army are already supra and beyond nan caller standards. And again, those averages were for each female work members, not combat members who get much clip to train, arsenic good arsenic job-specific training programs. 

Based connected that, it doesn’t look that anyone who wants to service successful a combat domiciled will beryllium incapable to qualify.