This needed to happen badly.
Under the leadership of President Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon is re-evaluating the military’s standards regarding body composition, grooming, and physical fitness, which were relaxed during the Biden administration.
Hegseth issued a memo to Pentagon officials, urging a return to the high standards that have traditionally made the U.S. military the most formidable fighting force in the world. He emphasized that maintaining rigorous and clear standards is crucial for the unity and strength of the military, helping to ensure a disciplined and effective force.
During the Biden years, several changes were made to military requirements. The body fat percentage limits for recruits were raised, and grooming regulations were loosened. For example, female soldiers were given more flexibility with hairstyles, and men were allowed to wear nail polish. Additionally, there were changes to facial hair policies, including more lenient allowances for beards under certain conditions. These modifications were part of a broader shift toward inclusivity, but Hegseth and other Pentagon leaders are now reviewing the impact of these changes on military readiness.
The Pentagon is conducting an in-depth review of current standards for physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, including facial hair rules. This review will also assess how these standards have changed since 2015 and evaluate the effects of those changes on the military’s overall effectiveness.
Hegseth has stressed that the military must remain vigilant in maintaining high standards to ensure that it remains the most capable and powerful force in the world. He noted that our adversaries are not becoming weaker, and the challenges facing the military are not diminishing. To maintain the strength of the military, he believes that attention to small details, such as grooming and fitness, is critical in upholding accountability and discipline. These foundational elements are necessary to sustain the military’s readiness and ability to protect the nation.