There are two separate reasons for fitness standards. The first is the one you're probably thinking of - you need to be so strong or so fast in order to do you

There are two separate reasons for fitness standards. The first is the one you're probably thinking of - you need to be so strong or so fast in order to do your job. The second is more subtle, along the lines of "we want soldiers to have the discipline and willingness to follow rules that physical fitness signals." This is why they want a drone pilot, for example, to meet physical fitness standards. Really, the military should have three fitness standards: one for all male soldiers, one for all female soldiers, and another for the soldier's specific speciality.