In a unique event set to take place at the White House, service members are being offered the opportunity to attend a UFC fight hosted by President Donald Trump. However, only those who meet specific military body composition standards will receive tickets, according to guidance memos reviewed by CNN.
Fitness Standards for Attendance
The Pentagon has outlined that ticket recipients must adhere to the Defense Department’s waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55, alongside all service-specific physical fitness test requirements. This standard aligns with the Defense Department’s recent emphasis on physical fitness as a measure of ‘warfighting readiness.’
For context, the Cleveland Clinic lists the average height of American men and women at 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 4 inches, respectively. This means that, on average, male troops would need to maintain a waist size of no more than 37 inches, while female troops would need to stay within a 35-inch waist limit.
Focus on Physical Readiness
This change in body composition standards is part of a broader initiative led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been vocal about improving the physical readiness of the military. In a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth emphasized the need to eliminate ‘fat troops’ and ensure that military personnel maintain a high level of fitness.
While the Pentagon has not commented directly on the guidance for the UFC event, sources indicate that the selection criteria aim to ensure that attendees ‘look good’ on camera, reflecting positively on the military’s image.
Additional Selection Criteria
Besides meeting fitness standards, commanders are instructed to distribute tickets to ‘genuine UFC fans’ and prioritize junior enlisted members and officers. The guidance also suggests selecting attendees from outside the nation’s capital, although service members will need to cover their own travel expenses despite receiving free tickets.
This event is part of a series of appearances by President Trump with U.S. troops, where the Pentagon has carefully managed the optics, selecting soldiers based on both political leanings and physical appearance.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
