§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of new recruits to the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force passed the initial fitness tests in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the equivalent figures over the past 10 years. [HL1644]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)The information is not held centrally in the manner requested. Nevertheless, I am able to provide the following details.
NAVAL SERVICE
All RN recruits are required to undertake a pre-joining fitness test which must be passed before entering the Service. Pass rates in the potential Royal Marines course average out at 50 to 55 per cent.
ARMY
All Army recruits must pass the initial fitness test in order to complete recruit training. Failure to complete a fitness test results in the recruit being retrained and retested.
RAF
All RAF recruits undertake the fitness test in week one of phase 1 training and again at the end of phase 1. During the period April to December 2003, the pass rates were 80 per cent and 88 per cent respectively. All recruits are expected to attain the standards of the RAF fitness test before the end of phase 2 training.