Pentagon may reverse gender-neutral physical fitness test for US army soldiers

US Army recruits in combat training 

Credit: Reuters

The US Army is considering a reversal of its new gender-neutral physical test to instead include different evaluation categories for men and women.

Research showed that the Army Combat Fitness Test [ACFT], which is the same for male and female soldiers, was leading to lower results for women with a knock-on effect for promotions.

An early Pentagon study showed that women were failing the ACFT at a rate of 65 per cent, while only 10 percent of men did.

Congress has halted implementation of the new test and the Army has launched an independent review into whether it is fair.

In the ACFT there are six events — the maximum deadlift, a standing power throw, hand-release push-ups, a sprint, drag and carry, leg tuck, and a two-mile run.

To pass the test those taking it must score at least 360 points out of a possible 600, and those who achieve higher scores are more likely to be promoted.

However, average sores for women so far are said to have been 100 points lower.

Congress has now declared that the test in its current form should not be a factor in deciding whether someone gets promoted.

Changes expected to be introduced include how core body strength is tested in the leg tuck event.

Instead of hanging from a bar and tucking legs to their chest, soldiers will instead be given the option of doing a two-minute plank exercise.

Early research showed female soldiers’ scores were improving with the plank option.

Last month, an Army official said a possible solution being considered for the gulf in test scores was using "gender-specific" percentile groupings when considering promotions.

Rather than using their raw scores men and women would separately be categorised as in the top one per cent, top 10 per cent, and so on.

An Army officer told Military.com: "We have to figure out a way to make it fair to both genders. We need a fair way that accounts for physiological differences.

"If anything, it’s a more gender-neutral assessment process because it doesn’t show the raw scores."

All US soldiers have been able to take the new test since October, but it will not count towards promotions until March 2022.

Last month, Captain Kristen Griest, the US Army’s first female infantry officer, welcomed the ACFT and argued that it should be scored the same for men and women.

Not doing so would have "insidious impacts on combat effectiveness," she said.

She said critics might call her "uncaring" but "nothing could be further from the truth."

She said: "To not require women to meet equal standards in combat arms will not only undermine their credibility, but also place those women, their teammates, and the mission at risk.

"The Army cannot artificially absolve women of that responsibility. It may still exist on the battlefield."