Sunny Hostin, co-host of "The View," expressed bewilderment on Tuesday regarding Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's decision to enforce more stringent physical standards for military personnel.
Hegseth, speaking in Quantico, Virginia, declared that all combat roles, irrespective of gender, would adhere to the highest "male-level" standards to ensure readiness for potential "life and death" scenarios. He acknowledged that this could lead to a decrease in female participation.
Hostin criticized Hegseth, claiming he "denigrated" the Marines by advocating for stronger standards and the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
According to the Daily Caller, Hostin remarked, "Also [Hegseth] said he was going to return to the highest male standard for combat positions because troops were fat. I dont understand how that was supposed to be an uplifting message for our military." She further described the situation as "bizarre," noting Hegseth's comments on "woke DEI policies." Hostin pointed out that there are no gender quotas in the military and criticized Hegseth for dismissing over a dozen military leaders, including people of color and women, such as General Charles Brown Jr., the African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to command the Navy. Hostin questioned the perceived hypocrisy in Hegseth's actions and statements.
During his address, Hegseth emphasized the necessity for generals and troops to maintain physical fitness, stating it is "unacceptable" for them to be out of shape. He insisted on rigorous physical training and mandated two annual physical tests to ensure military readiness. Hegseth was unequivocal in his stance against what he termed distractions, declaring, "No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction or gender delusion, no more debris. Ive said before and will say again, we are done with that st."
In a related development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will implement a new requirement starting in November, mandating all applicants to complete a strict pull-up as part of the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) for aspiring special agents. This new standard specifies that an applicant's hands must be no wider than two hand widths outside the shoulders, and they must pull their body upward until their chin surpasses the bar.
Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii expressed concern that these new standards might disadvantage female applicants during a September 16 hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel. The director maintained that all agents must meet the agency's fundamental physical requirements, regardless of gender. This development underscores a broader debate about the balance between maintaining rigorous standards and ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, a discussion that continues to unfold within both military and civilian sectors.
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