BREAKING: Defense Sec to institute 'highest equal standards for men and women in combat'

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that the US military "soon will have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat."

While on board a plane returning from Japan, where he met with troops, Hegseth said he was working on a memorandum set to come out on Monday on combat arms standards.

"You see, for far too long we allowed standards to slip, and different standards for men and women in combat arms MOSs and jobs. That’s not acceptable. We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles to ensure our men and women who are under our leaders or in those formations have the best possible leaders and the highest possible standards that are not based at all on your sex."

"So we’re signing this, I’m signing this memorandum today. The services will review and soon will have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat."

Earlier in March, Hegseth ordered a review of fitness standards in the military. He wrote in a memo, "We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force."

"Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards."

Hegseth declared at the time that US troops would be "fit — not fat" and would look "sharp — not sloppy."