Army imposes new health requirements in Hegseth fitness push

Published July 7, 2026 5:17pm ET



The U.S. Army handed its soldiers new physical requirements Tuesday, a move in line with War Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s directive to improve fitness standards among the Department of War‘s rank and file.

Under the new policy, soldiers will be required to maintain a waist-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing waist circumference by height, of 0.55 or lower. Soldiers who are not compliant with the policy will be referred to the Army Body Composition Program to receive nutrition counseling.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.