Marine Corps rolls out biggest fitness standard overhaul in 40 years

[rangerrebew]

Marine Corps rolls out biggest fitness standard overhaul in 40 years
by Hope Hodge Seck, Military.com - Jul 1, 2016 3:32:38 pm US Marine Corps

 

The Marine Corps is solving the problem of requiring pull-ups for women by adding a push-ups option for all troops on the physical fitness test, Military.com has learned.

On Friday, the Corps rolled out a series of sweeping changes to the PFT, combat fitness test, and body fat standards — the result of a review of existing policies that began last November. The new fitness standards go into effect Jan. 1, 2017, officials said, and the body composition standards take effect immediately.

http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/marine-corps-rolls-out-biggest-fitness-standard-overhaul-in-40-years

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[rangerrebew]

I can think of only one reason they are changing, the number of women who are failing the physical fitness test.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Push-ups - great.  We're the f*cking Army now.  Commandant should have resigned rather than lowering standards for all to account for gender politics.

[geronl]

wow....

this is truly messed up

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I can think of only one reason they are changing, the number of women who are failing the physical fitness test.

Oh hell, you don't even have to imagine why - they said it right in the article:

and in 2014, Marine officials admitted that half of women tested in boot camp couldn’t meet the three-pull-up minimum.

And given that the SecNav has ordered that the tests be the same....the men can't be required to do it either.

[geronl]

US Marines..... someday will become similar to the Coast Guard Reserves

[uglybiker]

I can think of only one reason they are changing, the number of women who are failing the physical fitness test.

Will this include those who self-identify as women?

[bolobaby]

The body fat standard elimination for PT studs is a great change. I knew plenty of guys in the army who were buff, but body fat measurements always skew horribly when you have a muscular neck.

[geronl]

Now we gets us some wimmin!!!

[Maj. Bill Martin]

The body fat standard elimination for PT studs is a great change. I knew plenty of guys in the army who were buff, but body fat measurements always skew horribly when you have a muscular neck.

I have no issue with the other changes.  But changing the pull-up requirement for men because women couldn't meet it is the canary in the coal mine.  Any hope that infantry standards would not be lowered so that women can meet them just vanished.

[rangerrebew]

I have no issue with the other changes.  But changing the pull-up requirement for men because women couldn't meet it is the canary in the coal mine.  Any hope that infantry standards would not be lowered so that women can meet them just vanished.

Didn't, at one time, the Marines say they would not change the physical standards for women to get in the infantry?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Didn't, at one time, the Marines say they would not change the physical standards for women to get in the infantry?

Yes, yes they did.

Now, those standards have not yet been changed.  The problem is that the SecNav has ordered gender integration of boot camp and the adoption of uniform tests, which means that either you disqualify large number of women from being Marines period, or you change the standards for males and females.  They took the latter course.

My guess is that most training personnel will themselves resist pressure to make things easier.  But over time, they'll be replaced by those who are more compliant.

Maybe I should give the Commandant the benefit of the doubt that he will not do that, but after he dropped the pull-up requirement for men, I have zero faith in him.