However, some women could successfully complete all of the proxy tasks and thus are physically capable of meeting the demands of closed combat occupations. The primary physical obstacle for women is upper body strength. Estimates of fat-free mass and VO2max were also strongly related to an overall measure of combat readiness (Spearman's ρ=0.77 and ρ=0.56, respectively). The PFT and CFT components tasks were also related, strongly in some cases, with performance on combat-related proxy tasks (Spearman's ρ typically ranged from 0.60 to 0.80). Overall, there was a high rate of successful completion on the combat proxy tasks (men, ≈80% to 100% women, ≈70% to 100%), with the notable exception being the clean and press (men, 80% women, 9%) and pull-ups (men, 16±4 women, 4☒).

Participants completed 6 physical tasks: 120-mm tank loading drill, 155-mm artillery round carry, negotiating an obstacle course wall while wearing a fighting load (≈30 lb), pull-ups, deadlift, and clean and press. All participants (409 male, 379 femaile) were active-duty Marines who recently completed the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT). Thus, the purpose of this effort was to identify those physical requirements most likely to serve as barriers for women wanting to enter closed combat arms positions, and to evaluate the quality of existing physical fitness tests as potential measures of assessment of combat readiness.ĭata were collected from 3 different sites within the US Marine Corps Training and Education Command. These restrictions can limit the advancement of women through the ranks of military leadership.

For decades women have been restricted from direct assignment to certain military occupational specialties such as infantry.

Women in combat arms