Pull-ups delayed for female Marines

More than half of female recruits can't do 3

Lance Cpl. Katelyn M. Hunter conducts pull-ups on Dec. 12, 2012.
Lance Cpl. Katelyn M. Hunter conducts pull-ups on Dec. 12, 2012. — USMC photo

On the other hand, some military bloggers have pointed out that male Marines are held to a higher standard.

For example, it takes 20 pull-ups for men to get a maximum score on the Marine physical fitness test, while women only have to do eight for maximum points.

Reaction to the female pull-up delay has been scathing on some military blogs, whose authors are taking it as a sign that the physical bar would have to be dropped for women to be allowed in combat, or that females would drag down a unit even if they passed the entry tests.

“I don’t ever remember a single male Marine in the fleet or support unit who could only do three pull-ups,” wrote blogger Ultimaratioregis.

“The physical disparity between an average male Marine and female Marine is gigantic.”

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, recently introduced legislative language that requires the Pentagon to create a “gender-neutral occupational standard” for any combat jobs that are opened to women.

In November, for the first time, three female Marines graduated from enlisted infantry training.

The women were held to the same standards as men, including performing full pull-ups during the physical fitness test. However, they won’t be assigned to infantry platoons because their participation in the training was only for research purposes.

The Marines have laid out a detailed training plan to help women gain the arm, shoulder and back strength needed for pull-ups.

Working out three times a week for six weeks, women are directed to do multiple sets of push-ups, bench presses, upright rows and the like.

Why such a big deal about the pull-up — as opposed to other measures of physical might, such as the push-up?

Gibson at the Combat Development Command said the Marine Corps has decided the pull-up is the best gauge because it requires the muscular strength necessary to perform common military tasks.

Marine Corps officials say physical fitness standards have always changed with the times.

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered that Marine Corps staff officers would be required to ride 90 miles on horseback, and line officers would walk 50 miles over three days.

By 1956, Marines were being tested on chin-ups, push-ups, broad jump, a 50-yard duck waddle and an at least 440-yard run.

According to history provided by Gibson, the first female version of a regular physical fitness test arrived in 1969.

It consisted of a 120-yard shuttle run, vertical jump, knee push-ups, 600-yard run/walk and sit-ups. In 1975, the flexed-arm hang was added.

In 2010, the Marine Corps commandant directed the development command to study a replacement for the flexed-arm hang for female Marines. The recommendation was the pull-up.


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Twitter: @jensteeley


