A new Pentagon policy imposing stricter fitness tests says unit leaders must be “held accountable” for how their troops perform. Three military services said their Inspector General offices are assessing, or may soon assess, how the standards are implemented during regular readiness reviews.

Since taking charge of the Pentagon, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has pushed for tougher fitness standards and criticized the presence of troops and generals he characterized as fat. The services have responded with new requirements, including fitness tests for combat troops and stricter waist to height measurements.

An August update to the Department of War’s instructions for fitness and body composition programs made the leadership standard explicit. It stated that “leadership must be both entrusted to lead and accountable for failure.”

For the Navy, Marine Corps, and possibly the Air Force in the near future, Inspector General readiness inspections will include or could include reviews of unit fitness programs. Army officials said their service is still implementing its new Army wide fitness regimes.

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The Department of War referred questions about enforcement to the individual services. Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force officials told Task & Purpose that their Inspector General offices can examine how units are carrying out the standards.

The Department of War and each military service maintain their own Inspector General offices. Beyond investigations involving serious matters such as sexual harassment or toxic leadership, those watchdogs examine systemic problems affecting readiness and compliance with service and Department of War policies.

A Marine Corps spokesperson said leaders will be held accountable through the Inspector General inspection program, “which evaluates units and leaders on the proper implementation of service policies.” That process puts responsibility for execution directly on commanders and individual Marines.

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“If that program fails, then that is something that he or she is held accountable for, as is any of the individual Marines,” Capt. Wesley Medeiros, a Marine Corps spokesperson, told Task & Purpose.

Marine Corps evaluators use checklists to review unit fitness programs. Their questions address administrative action after a failed annual fitness test, compliance with body composition standards, time for daily endurance, strength, and mobility training, and whether every Marine can demonstrate “first class” fitness test scores.

Image Credit: DoW

Air Force officials said the service is also considering fitness reviews within its regular inspection system. “We charge our commanders and supervisors to hold airmen accountable and give them the opportunity to participate in physical activity each duty day,” officials said.

“As fitness directly affects unit and individual readiness, we are looking to integrate physical fitness into unit effectiveness and readiness inspections,” Air Force officials added.

The Air Force inspection system requires leaders from major commands through wing level units to conduct regular reviews. Those cycles occur at least every 36 months for active duty units and every 60 months for reserve units.

Reviews can examine whether a unit complies with a particular policy or meets mission readiness goals. Commanders can order inspections focused on weaknesses and compliance problems, while Inspectors General may examine selected areas or “special-interest items.”

“However, it is designed as a continuous evaluation throughout the period to support the major inspection elements,” an Air Force official said. “The inspection program also includes ongoing unit self-assessments and other inspections.”

Navy officials said updated physical readiness programs can be assessed during Inspector General command inspections. Those inspections also review mission performance, quality of life, training, and facilities.

Image Credit: DoW

Navy leaders are responsible for “leading by example and cultivating a proactive culture of health and readiness for their sailors,” officials said. More than 97% of personnel passed during the first cycle of annual fitness tests administered in 2026.

The Army has not indicated that it will direct Inspectors General to assess its new fitness policies because the service remains in the implementation phase. It introduced a new fitness test for combat soldiers in April and waist to height ratios for all soldiers in July.

Image Credit: DoW

For now, soldiers will not be recorded as failing or outside regulations. Officials said the Army will determine any “punitive action” for failed tests or body composition standards after completing its comprehensive assessment.

“The Army has full trust in its leadership and chain of command to execute their duties in accordance with their echelon of responsibility,” an Army official told Task & Purpose. “Failure to meet these standards will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Army leaders are accountable for all physical fitness and body composition programs across their formations.”

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