In a recent written question from Labour MP Julie Minns, Defence Minister Al Carns provided detailed data on annual fitness test failures across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force.
The data spans several years and highlights notable trends in the physical readiness of UK service personnel, showing both challenges and improvements across branches.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy recorded fluctuations in its annual fitness test failure rates, with a peak in recent years. In 2022, the failure rate reached 8%, marking a considerable rise from 7% in both 2020 and 2021. The rate continued to increase in 2023, peaking at 9%. However, 2024 showed a positive turnaround with a notable drop to 5%, suggesting improvements in fitness standards and readiness.
British Army
The British Army has maintained a relatively consistent and low fitness test failure rate, with only minor variations over the years. Since 2021, the Army’s failure rate has stayed around 3%, a trend that continued into 2023. Notably, 2024 recorded a slight decrease to 2%, marking a small but positive step toward achieving lower failure rates. The Army’s commitment to regular training and fitness support has been reflected in these consistent results.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has seen more variation in recent years, with a peak failure rate of 9% in 2021. Since then, the RAF has made gradual progress, reducing the rate to 8.7% in 2022 and further to 6.9% in 2023. In 2024, the RAF continued to show slight improvement, with the failure rate dropping to 6.7%.
The data for each branch reflects the MOD’s efforts to address physical standards and highlights areas for further focus, particularly as each branch adapts to new challenges in maintaining operational readiness among personnel.
They can now fight their way to a good 🍔🍺. well done guys..
Interesting..that was quite a hump in the RN and RAF, in 2021 and 2022. I wonder if that was in some way related to covid and changes in workplace.
The question is, does is this show people increasing their fitness levels, or standards being lowered.
I think the standards are constant.
Fitness up or standards down? At least the Army can run or walk to battle as most of the aging kit will have broken down.
Interesting how many people with zero basis simply jump straight to “standards are being lowered.”
Hint RFT and SCR standards have not changed.
Probably because the RAF people who would fail just didn’t take a test… 1700+ out of date by up to 8 years.
Hypothetically let’s say it’s a combination of things that’s making the army fitter main one being the SCR and RFT are virtually impossible to fail, but for those that are failing them are the same individuals that are always failing them and due to the constant pressure to keep those stats green for readiness and lack of personnel to select from these people will, with the click of a few buttons just pass those fitness tests. Could also be lack of accountability these people that are always failing don’t get any repercussions anymore just promotions which doesn’t set any examples so witnessing this can cause those that do put the effort in to just stop trying so the cycle continues of failure but we have to deploy and those same people PASS!!!!
This is just my hypothetical opinion of course.
(this doesn’t include genuine injuries or returning from)
BUT well done to those finally meeting the standard good for them
RFT impossible to fail? That’s interesting because I’ve seen more than a few people fail the RFT.
RAF are the only ones that can handle decimal points…. 😂
I jest….