With Canada’s military numbers sitting about 5,000 troops below minimum requirements, the Armed Forces are looking at reviewing minimum “medical requirements” to attract new recruits.
“We will undertake a wide array of new and innovative measures to attract more Canadians to the unique opportunities of service offered by the Canadian Armed Forces,” said an April 15 department memo to Defence Minister Bill Blair, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“For example, we will streamline the security clearance process and establish a probationary period to enrol applicants faster. We will also re-evaluate medical requirements and abolish outdated processes and criteria where possible to support efforts to fill our personnel gap.”
The memo didn’t explain which “medical requirements” would be waived.
Volunteers must complete fitness tests, such as a 5-km march carrying 20 kg of equipment, hoisting a 20-kg sandbag 30 times in 3 1/2 minutes and sprinting 80 m from push-up positions.
Blair earlier told reporters he was looking at other measures like cutting the probationary minimum enlistment to as little as 18 months, similar to probation at a municipal police force.
“I joined the police service nearly 50 years ago,” said Blair, a former Toronto Police chief.
“When I joined, I was on probation for 18 months. It gave the police service an opportunity to find out if I was the right person for their profession, but it also gave me an opportunity to decide if that profession was right for me.”
Minimum strength for the Canadian Armed Forces is 68,000 fully trained regular members, but regular forces currently stand at about 63,000 members.