Marine Corps Times editor Andrew deGrandpré wrote this week about a big change to the women's PFT: mandatory pull-ups.
Starting in 2014, women will have to do a minimum of 3 pull-ups to pass the test, and complete 8 for a perfect score.
Andrew writes:
Female Marines soon will be required to perform pull-ups, just like male Marines do, as part of their annual physical fitness tests, the Marine Corps' top general announced Tuesday.
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The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2014, Gen. Jim Amos, the service's commandant, alerted Marines in a force-wide message. Officials will phase in the change throughout the coming year to accommodate what is expected to be a significant adjustment.
Amos' message does not indicate why the change is being implemented, but the Marine Corps has spent nearly two years evaluating the restrictions it places on women, with an eye toward breaking down longstanding barriers where possible. Within the last year, for instance, officials have opened to female Marines dozens of jobs in tank and artillery units, among others previously the province of men only.
Read the rest of Andrew's story over on Marine Corps Times.
I can bust out 3 whole pull-ups, 4 if it's really important, but I'll whine about it the whole time. Ladies, high five to all of you who can put up 8 or more.
TELL US: How do you feel about the Corps' plan to require female Marines to do pull-ups on their PFTs? Send us a letter at marinelet@marinecorpstimes.com. Need more pull-ups? From our friends at Scoop Deck: SEAL chief to attempt pullup record again From Nov. 5: Marine Sgt. Sean Puleo's 365 day challenge: 50K pullups, 2K miles for Wounded Warrior Project
