This suggests a need by the Marine Corps to hide the fact that equality in combat may not be possible, though some female Marines are able to pass the test. So far 13 have done so.

Former Marine Greg Jacob told NPR that the onus is on the Marine Corps to better train female recruits.

“At first, a lot of women weren’t able to do it,” Jacob said. “They were able to do one, some were able to do two, but what happened was by having that standard and enforcing that standard, it made my Marines, it made the troops go to the gym and train to that standard.”

Jacob said that within six months, the women he trained were able to do nine to 12 pullups.