Marine Corps combat women largely pass new sex-neutral fitness tests

Following a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Marine Corps has implemented sex-neutral grading for physical fitness tests for all personnel in combat specialties. The new policy requires Marines in these roles to achieve a minimum score of 210 out of 300 points on the annual physical fitness test, which includes a 3-mile run, pushups or pullups, and an abdominal plank.

Data from the Marine Corps spring physical fitness test indicates that more than 90% of female Marines in combat specialties have met or exceeded this new standard. Of the 422 women currently serving in combat specialties, 400 have completed the test under the updated requirements. While the standards are sex-neutral, they still allow for age-based adjustments, with benchmarks declining for older service members.

Experts note that because women represent a small portion of the Marine Corps and an even smaller portion of combat arms, the current sample size is too limited to make broad, generalizable conclusions about how women in combat roles across the entire military will perform under these standards.