October 1, 2025

A dramatic scene unfolded at Marine Corps Base Quantico as U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth took a rare and outspoken stand against what he calls the "decay" in the military. Speaking on September 30, 2025, Hegseth did not mince words. He slammed "fat generals and admirals"—calling their overweight state "completely unacceptable" in the halls of the Pentagon. His fiery remarks came during a meeting of top commanders, where he told those who don’t back his agenda to simply resign.

Hegseth’s sharp critique comes amid ongoing discussions about military readiness and the role of diversity initiatives. He expressed frustration over how some physical tests are "age-normed," which means older troops get easier standards, a point that many see as lowering the bar.

The U.S. Armed Forces have different physical fitness rules for each branch, fitting their unique missions. Let's take a quick tour of the 2025 standards that troops face:

U.S. Army: The Army switched to a new test called the Army Fitness Test (AFT) starting June 1, 2025. This test has five tough events —deadlifting, push-ups, sprinting while dragging weight, abdominal plank, and a two-mile run. If soldiers work in 21 specific combat roles, they must meet even tougher fitness targets.

U.S. Navy: The Navy’s physical readiness test includes push-ups, forearm planks, and a challenging endurance event like swimming or running.

U.S. Air Force: The Air Force test mixes a 1.5-mile run, sit-ups, push-ups, and adds a waist-to-height ratio check. Combat positions need stricter scores. Starting 2026, Airmen must take physical tests twice a year, with the two-mile run making up half the score.

U.S. Space Force: When it began in 2019, the Space Force borrowed the Air Force's rules — push-ups, 1.5-mile run, and planking. But soon after, they started building their own program called the "Holistic Health Approach." This covers ongoing fitness, health optimization, and building the power of the Guardians.

Against this backdrop, Hegseth’s call for sharper discipline and fitness marks a new chapter in the military’s push to stay strong. His blunt words about overweight leaders and resistance to change have stirred the pot, setting the stage for reforms and tough love in America's armed forces.

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Tags: Pete hegseth, Military fitness, U.s. armed forces, Donald trump, Physical fitness standards, Military health,