Senior Pentagon leaders are assembling lists of uniformed service members who will be offered free tickets to the UFC fight President Donald Trump is hosting on the White House South Lawn next month, but only troops who meet military body composition standards will be eligible, according to guidance memos reviewed by CNN. One memo states that recipients must meet the Defense Department's waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55 and pass all service-specific fitness requirements, a benchmark that would cap the average man's waist around 37 inches and the average woman's around 35. The criteria align with body composition rules the department adopted earlier this year under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has made physical fitness a signature focus and vowed there would be no "fat generals and admirals" at the Pentagon. Two defense officials told CNN that leaders signaled attendees should "look good" on camera, with one bluntly summarizing the message to troops as "no fattys." The guidance also directs commanders to prioritize genuine UFC fans among junior enlisted and junior officers, and notes that while the tickets are free, service members must cover their own travel. The Pentagon declined to comment.
Sources: CNN, KTEN.
Senior Pentagon leaders are assembling lists of uniformed service members who will be offered free tickets to the UFC fight President Donald Trump is hosting on the White House South Lawn next month, but only troops who meet military body composition standards will be eligible, according to guidance memos reviewed by CNN. One memo states that recipients must meet the Defense Department's waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55 and pass all service-specific fitness requirements, a benchmark that would cap the average man's waist around 37 inches and the average woman's around 35. The criteria align with body composition rules the department adopted earlier this year under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has made physical fitness a signature focus and vowed there would be no "fat generals and admirals" at the Pentagon. Two defense officials told CNN that leaders signaled attendees should "look good" on camera, with one bluntly summarizing the message to troops as "no fattys." The guidance also directs commanders to prioritize genuine UFC fans among junior enlisted and junior officers, and notes that while the tickets are free, service members must cover their own travel. The Pentagon declined to comment.
Sources: CNN, KTEN.
