After the decision by the Department of Defense to include women in combat training roles, 6 out of 7 female recruits failed to pass the new regimen of pull-ups, ammunition-can lifts, three-mile run, and combat maneuvers required for the jobs. Only three percent of male recruits failed, according to the data.
The tests, taken 45 days into basic training, force recruits who fail into less physically demanding Marine jobs. A decision that the Marine commandant says is making the Corps stronger.
"I think that's made everybody better," Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said. "We're trying to raise everybody's bar a little bit and we're trying to figure out how to get closer together, because at the end of the day we're all going to be on the battlefield and we all have to be able to do our job."
Marine infantry is world-renowned for its ability to move quickly and efficiently. They routinely slog for miles carrying packs weighed down with complicated weapon systems and ammunition, and at any moment must be able to scale walls, dig in and fight in close combat. From Belleau Wood, France to Guadalcanal, Marines have relied on their unique ability to move swiftly and violently in battle.