Many men and women in uniform not exactly fighting fit

By STEPHEN COOK

They're the nation's finest - the fighting-fit men and women of the New Zealand Army.

Or so we thought.

The Army has revealed that in recent tests 133 territorial and regular officers and soldiers failed to reach even the most basic fitness levels required by the military.

What is more, there were no fitness records at all for the first six months of the year for another 760 active servicemen.

Of those fit for battle, only 11 soldiers had a 100 per cent pass rate in their individual fitness tests.

To successfully complete the test a soldier must run 2.4km in a time between 10 minutes 30 seconds and 13 minutes 50 seconds (the targets depend on age and sex) and complete up to 50 sit-ups and 28 press-ups without stopping.

Fitness experts say anyone with "reasonable" fitness would easily pass.

In the latest copy of Army News, Army chief General Jerry Mateparae said he was "astounded" by the results and promised those who failed the test would get a strongly-worded letter reminding them of the Army's requirement to stay in shape.

The Army's regular fitness test was the minimum standard, he said.

Another Army spokesman, Major Murray Brown, said the poor showing in the fitness test was "something the bosses are concerned about".

However, given that the test was taken by about 4400 soldiers, the results were not so bad, he said.

Of the 760 for whom there were no records, some were overseas on active duty while others "had just slipped through for various reasons".

Those who failed the test were required to go through remedial training with a physical trainer, then took the test again within a fortnight.

If they failed that test, there would be further fitness training over six months until the soldier met the test. If they failed to do that, the soldier could be kicked out of the Army.

"Anyone with moderate fitness would pass this test. But you have to remember that with any group of people there are always going to be those who are not as fit as they could or should be," he said.

"At least we have a process to get them to the required standards."

Les Mills World of Fitness fitness trainer Lindsay Hooker thought most people would handle the Army test "reasonably comfortably".

"You'd expect that these guys would have no trouble at all. They are meant to be able to go to war and defend you."

Mr Hooker estimated that he could take most people off the street and get them to Army fitness levels within 12 weeks.