Tri-Service
'No Lowering Of Standards' To Allow Women On Front Line
General Sir Nick Carter has denied fitness and training standards will be lowered to allow female soldiers to serve on the front line.
Newspaper reports suggested the Army is re-writing its fitness training and tests to recognise physical differences between men and women as it prepares to allow female soldiers to fight on the front line.
The Chief of the General Staff Sir Nick Carter said.
"I want to make it very clear that there will be no lowering of training or qualifying levels for soldiers in ground close combat roles."
There is expected to be an end to the ban on women joining close combat units - including infantry and armoured regiments - later this year.
Ahead of that, the paper says it's seen an MoD document stating that the current physical training for the army is 'optimised for male physiology' and that tests are based on old and incomplete science.
Defence officials are now attempting to identify the “most effective” training methods for female infantry troops - with the main purpose of a review to match more closely a soldier's fitness to his or her role and the demands of the battlefield.
The Mod said.
"The MOD is undertaking a review to establish the physical standards required for ground close combat, which is due to complete in 2019. It will be based upon the principle that any standards will be related to the required role rather than individual characteristics. No decisions have been taken and any claims of what this will involve are pure speculation."
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