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• The methods for establishing physical standards for specific occupations can be described as consisting of a six-stage process.
• The first four stages contribute to the initial development of the standards — the tests and minimum test scores that will be employed in selecting among applicants for entry into an occupation or among job incumbents for continuation in the job.
• The last two stages of the six-stage process focus on implementation and sustainment. The last stage, supporting and updating the standards over time, should be an ongoing effort.
• Each stage is essential for ensuring that the standards accurately reflect the physically demanding work in an occupation, measure physical capabilities needed to carry out that work, and are set at the right level for successful performance on the job.
• Attention to a wide variety of technical methodological issues at each stage in the process is crucial for ensuring that the resulting standards are valid and fair.
• Establishing and validating standards is a complex process that requires multiple lines of research. No single research study can address all relevant issues. Amassing evidence to support a standard should be an ongoing effort.

Since the establishment of the all-volunteer force in 1973, representation of women in the U.S. military has risen to 15 percent, and an increasing number of military occupations have been opened to them. On January 24, 2013, the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) announced that the last remaining policy restricting the service of women, the direct ground combat exclusion rule, would be rescinded. With this policy change, women can serve in any occupation and assignment for which they can meet the occupational standards. However, prior to allowing ground combat jobs to be opened to women, the SecDef also directed the military services to validate their occupational standards to ensure they appropriately reflect occupational requirements and are gender neutral.

This report describes the best-practice methodologies for establishing gender-neutral standards for physically demanding jobs as consisting of six stages. Well-established professional guidelines for study designs, methods, analyses, and data considerations are discussed in detail for each of the six stages and key methodological considerations at each stage are identified.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Methodological Approaches to Establishing Physical Job Requirements

• Chapter Three

  Identify the Physical Demands of the Job

• Chapter Four

  Identify Potential Screening Tests

• Chapter Five

  Validate and Select Tests

• Chapter Six

  Establish Minimum Scores

• Chapter Seven

  Implement Screening

• Chapter Eight

  Confirm Tests Are Working as Intended

• Chapter Nine

  Final Thoughts