In 2024, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense reported that about 40% of all new recruits were declared unfit for service due to health conditions, and of those who were fit for service, only 19% were able to pass the physical fitness test.
The head of the Lithuanian Army Sports Club, Colonel Arturas Jasinskas, said that only 19% of recruits scored more than enough points to pass the initial physical fitness test. He said the situation is very sad, and in a recently visited battalion, only 5% of new soldiers were able to meet the minimum requirements.
The physical fitness test includes simple exercises: push-ups, squats (a certain number in two minutes) and a three-kilometer timed run. The question arises whether this is enough. The colonel replied that yes, for a start, for young people who are just starting military service, this is enough. “These exercises are performed both in ours and in the armed forces of other countries. They are necessary. In some countries, the exercises are slightly adjusted to better assess the level of physical fitness,” said Jasinskis.
The results that must be shown in the tests depend on the age of the recruit. 21-22-year-old men must do 41 push-ups and run three kilometers in 15 minutes and 30 seconds or faster to get a 60% result. Women are required to do 18 push-ups and run in no more than 18 minutes and 30 seconds. The number of squats is the same for both sexes – 52 squats in two minutes.
Statistics show that
of all young men recognized as fit for service, 72% are not even in satisfactory physical shape.
Jasinskis pointed out that the problem must be addressed comprehensively, starting with the physical fitness of young people in general. A large part of the problem is the approach at school and the attitude of parents – if a student cannot do something, they are allowed not to do it. Another nuance that worsens the statistics are the various ways in which athletic young people with good performance are given the opportunity to skip compulsory military service.
Despite everything, the Lithuanian Armed Forces can significantly improve the level of physical fitness of each recruit during their service. Statistics show that after three months of service, 51% of recruits can already pass the physical fitness test, and by the end of the nine-month service, 80% of recruits can do it. This is achieved with the help of a structured daily routine, nutrition, regular training and special programs.
The colonel explained that upon entering the army, a young person becomes part of a unit, and a systematic and specialized training process begins. Another important thing is the group dynamics – everyone works together. At the same time, the army adjusts the requirements for recruits according to their level of physical fitness. This does not mean that everyone is offered an individual approach, but there is definitely a difference in the requirements.
Jasinskis believes that
the army should still work more on teaching military skills, rather than general physical training,
and this needs to be thought about more in schools.
In Lithuania, starting in 2026, changes are planned in the conscription procedure. Young people will be conscripted into the army immediately after graduating from high school, reaching the age of 18, and health checks will be carried out already at the age of 17. Lowering the age of new recruits further highlights the need for appropriate education in schools, and Jasinskis pointed out that this means that the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Education must cooperate. The colonel emphasized that better physical fitness also means better defense capabilities.
Read the whole article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2619358/lithuania-s-youth-enter-military-physically-unprepared-a-concern-for-national-defence
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