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Senate Subcommittee Seeks Details on DOD Review of Close-Combat Physical Standards
Summary
Senators asked service leaders how they are meeting a Defense Department review to adopt uniform, occupation-driven physical standards for close-combat specialties; services said they are developing or have finalized tests for affected occupations and will deliver analyses to the department.
WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee questioned military personnel leaders on June 1 about a Defense Department-ordered review to standardize physical and combat-related fitness requirements for close-combat occupations, a review the committee said should reflect operational demands rather than representational targets.
“Secretary [of Defense] ordered a 60-day review of military combat armed standards to ensure that everyone who filled these roles was held to the same equal standard,” Chairman Tommy Tuberville told the witnesses and asked each service to describe its approach. “Can each of you talk about these requirements?”
Service witnesses described work already under way. Lieutenant General Brian Eifler said the Army is implementing standards for close combat occupations directed by last year’s NDAA and expects analysis and implementation under the committee’s timeline. Vice Admiral Richard Cheeseman Jr. said the Navy had begun nascent work for SEALs and explosive-ordnance-disposal communities and for other small ground-focused cadres.
Marine Corps and Air Force leaders emphasized existing high standards in close-combat communities. Lieutenant General Michael Borgschulte said the Marines apply identical physical standards across Marines in combat arms specialties, describing combat fitness tests that include casualty carries, ammunition handling and long forced marches under load. Lieutenant General Caroline M. Miller said the Air Force has developed a special-forces combat-arms physical fitness test and recently finalized an EOD physical test and would demonstrate it to leadership. Catherine Kelly of the Space Force noted the service’s additional focus on cognitive readiness for operators and said the Space Force is exploring technologies and training to assess and enhance cognitive and operational readiness in addition to physical fitness.
Witnesses stressed that updates will be occupation-specific and focused on operational demands. The services agreed to provide analyses and implementation plans to the department and committee as the review proceeds.
Ending — Committee members sought written follow-up on the content and timelines for occupation-specific standards; no formal votes were held.
