The United States Army has revealed an updated fitness test that sets the same physical standards for men and women in combat positions, dropping one of its most debated exercises in the process.
The new Army Fitness Test (AFT), announced on Monday, will take the place of the existing Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). 
According to the Army, the AFT is meant to create a force that is "physically ready" for tough and unpredictable conditions. The new test will be rolled out in stages starting from 1 June 2025, with the gender-neutral scoring system coming into effect on 1 January 2026 for active-duty soldiers and 1 June 2026 for Reserve and National Guard members.
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<h2>Push for equal standards</h2>
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stressed the importance of applying the same requirements to everyone in combat positions, regardless of gender.
&ldquo;Different standards for men and women in combat arms MOSes and jobs, that&rsquo;s not acceptable,&rdquo; he said in March. &ldquo;We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles,&rdquo; he added.
The updated requirements will apply to 21 combat-focused Military Occupational Specialties (MOSes), including infantry, Special Forces, and artillery. These roles will now be assessed using the male scoring chart.
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"For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral," said Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann. 
&ldquo;The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>What&rsquo;s in the New AFT?</h2>
The AFT will include five events:
Three-rep max deadlift
Hand-release push-ups with Army extension
Sprint-drag-carry
Plank
Two-mile run
Combat-role soldiers will need to score at least 60 points per event and reach a total of 350 to pass. Noncombat roles will continue to use a performance-normed scoring system based on sex and age, requiring 300 points in total.
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For women entering combat positions, the change marks a substantial increase in expectations. For example, under the previous test, a 17 to 21-year-old woman could pass by lifting 120 pounds. Now, she must lift 140 pounds. The sprint-drag-carry time also tightens from 3 minutes and 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 28 seconds.
Naumann made it clear, &ldquo;The one thing that&rsquo;s definite is no standard will be lowered.&rdquo;
Some have raised concerns that the new standards might affect women more. During the ACFT trials in 2019, 84% of women failed the test, compared to a 70% pass rate among men, a RAND Corporation study found. The Service Women&rsquo;s Action Network criticised the earlier rollout, calling it &ldquo;rash&rdquo; and warning that too many capable soldiers were failing.
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World: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stressed the importance of applying the same requirements to everyone in combat positions, regardless of gender.

The United States Army has revealed an updated fitness test that sets the same physical standards for men and women in combat positions, dropping one of its most debated exercises in the process. The new Army Fitness Test (AFT), announced on Monday, will take the place of the existing Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). According to the Army, the AFT is meant to create a force that is "physically ready" for tough and unpredictable conditions. The new test will be rolled out in stages starting from 1 June 2025, with the gender-neutral scoring system coming into effect on 1 January 2026 for active-duty soldiers and 1 June 2026 for Reserve and National Guard members. Also read: Trump to fire Hegseth? Ex-Pentagon official says 'Whiskeyleaks' may be replaced as 'even bigger bombshell stories coming' Push for equal standards Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stressed the importance of applying the same requirements to everyone in combat positions, regardless of gender. “Different standards for men and women in combat arms MOSes and jobs, that’s not acceptable,” he said in March. “We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles,” he added. The updated requirements will apply to 21 combat-focused Military Occupational Specialties (MOSes), including infantry, Special Forces, and artillery. These roles will now be assessed using the male scoring chart. Also read: Leak, deny, repeat? Pete Hegseth accused of sharing military secrets with wife; dismisses reports "For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral," said Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann. “The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event,” he added. What’s in the New AFT? The AFT will include five events: Three-rep max deadlift Hand-release push-ups with Army extension Sprint-drag-carry Plank Two-mile run Combat-role soldiers will need to score at least 60 points per event and reach a total of 350 to pass. Noncombat roles will continue to use a performance-normed scoring system based on sex and age, requiring 300 points in total. Also read: Trump to fire Hegseth? Ex-Pentagon official says 'Whiskeyleaks' may be replaced as 'even bigger bombshell stories coming' For women entering combat positions, the change marks a substantial increase in expectations. For example, under the previous test, a 17 to 21-year-old woman could pass by lifting 120 pounds. Now, she must lift 140 pounds. The sprint-drag-carry time also tightens from 3 minutes and 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Naumann made it clear, “The one thing that’s definite is no standard will be lowered.” Some have raised concerns that the new standards might affect women more. During the ACFT trials in 2019, 84% of women failed the test, compared to a 70% pass rate among men, a RAND Corporation study found. The Service Women’s Action Network criticised the earlier rollout, calling it “rash” and warning that too many capable soldiers were failing. Watch: US President Trump backs Hegseth after reports of second Signal chat on Yemen strikes

'Sex-neutral': US Army drops gendered scoring under Pete Hegseth - Women must now pass same tests as men

US Senator Tammy Duckworth, a decorated Asian American army veteran and double amputee, announced Tuesday she was pregnant with her second child.

The 49-year-old Democrat from Illinois stands to be the first senator to give birth during her term.

&quot;Wanted to share some exciting personal news...&quot; she tweeted, alongside a picture of two grownup ducks and a young duck joined by a plus sign to a baby duck, and a caption that read: &quot;Duck, duck, duck...duckling!&quot;

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Wanted to share some exciting personal news... <a href="https://t.co/ZZyu9pG2nq">pic.twitter.com/ZZyu9pG2nq</a>
&mdash; Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenDuckworth/status/955945234084573185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Duckworth told the Chicago Sun-Times she was expecting her second child, another girl, in April -- a few weeks after she turns 50.

&quot;Bryan and I are thrilled that our family is getting a little bit bigger, and Abigail is ecstatic to welcome her baby sister home this spring,&quot; she added in a statement, referring to her husband and three-year-old daughter.

Ten members of Congress have given birth in office -- but they all belonged to the chamber&#39;s House of Representatives.

&quot;As tough as it&#39;s been to juggle motherhood and the demands of being in the House and now the Senate, it&#39;s made me more committed to doing this job,&quot; the Sun-Times quoted her as saying.

An Iraq war veteran and retired US army lieutenant colonel, Duckworth lost both her legs when the helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down by insurgents in 2004.

She entered the House in 2012 and then the Senate in 2016, where she is one of the 100-strong chamber&#39;s 22 women.

Born in Thailand to a Thai mother and American father, she is the joint second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, alongside Kamala Harris.

Tammy Duckworth is a decorated Asian American army veteran and double amputee

US Senator Tammy Duckworth, a decorated Asian American army veteran and double amputee, announced Tuesday she was pregnant with her second child. The 49-year-old Democrat from Illinois stands to be the first senator to give birth during her term. "Wanted to share some exciting personal news..." she tweeted, alongside a picture of two grownup ducks and a young duck joined by a plus sign to a baby duck, and a caption that read: "Duck, duck, duck...duckling!" Wanted to share some exciting personal news... pic.twitter.com/ZZyu9pG2nq — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 23, 2018 × Duckworth told the Chicago Sun-Times she was expecting her second child, another girl, in April -- a few weeks after she turns 50. "Bryan and I are thrilled that our family is getting a little bit bigger, and Abigail is ecstatic to welcome her baby sister home this spring," she added in a statement, referring to her husband and three-year-old daughter. Ten members of Congress have given birth in office -- but they all belonged to the chamber's House of Representatives. "As tough as it's been to juggle motherhood and the demands of being in the House and now the Senate, it's made me more committed to doing this job," the Sun-Times quoted her as saying. An Iraq war veteran and retired US army lieutenant colonel, Duckworth lost both her legs when the helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down by insurgents in 2004. She entered the House in 2012 and then the Senate in 2016, where she is one of the 100-strong chamber's 22 women. Born in Thailand to a Thai mother and American father, she is the joint second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, alongside Kamala Harris.

US senator pregnant, set to be first to give birth in office

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'Sex-neutral': US Army drops gendered scoring under Pete Hegseth - Women must now pass same tests as men

US senator pregnant, set to be first to give birth in office