Swiss Armed Forces carry a litter on Feb. 17, 2025 as a part of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The USAREUR-AF International Tank Challenge builds tactical skills and enhances esprit de corps across the 11 crews from five participating Allied and Partner for Peace nations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brent Lee)

A large Swiss study reports that male conscripts’ physical fitness declined between 2006 and 2024. The deterioration was concentrated after 2020, even as more recruits described themselves as physically active. Researchers analysed 706,994 records collected during Switzerland’s mandatory conscription assessments. Male recruits’ model-adjusted fitness score fell from 74.2 to 70.4 out of 125, a decline of about 5%. Male BMI rose from 23.2 to 24.1.

The study notes:

“The proportion with normal weight declined from74% to 64%. The proportion of overweight individuals rose from 17% to 23%. besity increased from 5% to 9% among all conscripts (…) In the univariable GAM, BMI showed a small increase
from 2006 to 2024, rising from 23.0 kg/m² to 23.9 kg/m²”

Interestingly, FTA scores among female volunteers improved over time. Could an all-volunteer force therefore be more resistant to the broader decline in physical fitness?

Mass forced recruitment inevitably lowers the physical standards of the armed forces. Perhaps training resources would be better invested in men and women who are genuinely willing to train for service.

Stoican, Kübra, Alain Dössegger, Zeno Giovanni Stanga, Kaspar Staub, and Rahel Gilgen-Ammann. “Trends in Physical Fitness Performance and Body Mass Index of Swiss Military Conscripts, 2006–2024: A Cross-Sectional Study.” BMJ Open 16, no. 7 (2026): e116950. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116950