‘Too fat to fight’: thousands of British soldiers overweight 胖到不能打仗：數萬名英國軍人超重
The British army has a global reputation for efficiency and performance, but new figures published on June 22 suggest that its soldiers might be getting a little soft.
More than 32,000 soldiers failed a basic fitness test at some point in the past three years, and more than 22,000 were found to be overweight and at risk of health problems, according to Ministry of Defense figures.
All soldiers in the British army are required to complete a personal fitness assessment twice a year, and those who fail must retake the test within seven days. Multiple failures could result in being discharged.
Men under the age of 29 must complete 44 press-ups in two minutes, followed by 50 sit-ups in two minutes, and a 2.4km run within 10.5 minutes.
Women have a slightly easier test, with 21 press-ups, 50 sit-ups and 13 minutes in which to complete the run.
Women have a slightly easier test, with 21 press-ups, 50 sit-ups and 13 minutes in which to complete the run.
According to the figures obtained by The Sunday Times newspaper, 29,600 men and 2,819 women failed their fitness tests between April 2011 and March this year.
“This figure represents 11 percent of the army serving in that period and many of those who failed will have subsequently passed their fitness test,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The Sunday Times also revealed that more than 22,000 troops were found to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease because they were so unfit.
(AFP)
英國軍人的效率與表現全球知名，但六月二十二日公布的新數據顯示英軍或許有點弱。
超過三萬兩千名軍人在過去三年中的某個時刻，其基本體能測驗未過，逾兩萬兩千人被判定過重，而且有健康問題上的風險，根據國防部的數據。
英國所有軍人規定一年內要完成兩次個人體能評估，未過關者必須在七天內重考。多次失敗恐導致退役。
二十九歲以下的男性軍人必須在兩分鐘內完成四十四下伏地挺身，接著兩分鐘完成五十下仰臥起坐，以及在十分半內跑完二點四公里路程。
女兵的測驗稍微輕鬆一點，分別是二十一下伏地挺身、五十下仰臥起坐，以及十三分鐘內完成路跑。
根據《週日泰晤士報》取得的數據，二０一一年四月今年三月間，有兩萬九千六百名男性軍人與兩千八百一十九名女兵未能通過體能測驗。
