Army disregarded physical fitness standards to hit recruitment goals

A new Department of Defense inspector general’s report revealed that the U.S. Army allowed recruits who did not meet qualifications to join. The “Management Advisory: Army’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course Places Trainees At Increased Risk of Adverse Health Effects” found that recruiters and leadership at the Army Training Center and Fort Jackson admitted recruits with body fat percentages that did not comply with the military branch’s physical fitness requirements and standards. According to the report, 14% of the recruits admitted between February and May 2024 who became trainees in the...