RECRUITS from the “PlayStation generation” are so unfit that the army has been forced to introduce a course of basic physical exercises before they even start military training.

The three-week “soldier preconditioning” course, on trial at a camp in North Yorkshire, consists of swimming, cycling and circuit training, designed to build up their stamina.

In between the three daily sessions, recruits are given talks about basic skills for living close to others, such as brushing their teeth and controlling body odour.

Many recruits accepted into the army have done little sport at school and are likely to have spent more time playing computer games than exercising.

The course at Catterick garrison is intended to help cut the proportion dropping out of basic training from 35% to 30%. This year the garrison expects to train 2,900 infantrymen.

“A lot of recruits have never really achieved anything in physical sports and they’ve never been in a team,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Jennings, chief of staff at the training centre.

About 60% of those medically discharged from the army each year leave as a result of training-related injuries. Many of these could be avoided if soldiers were fitter at the beginning.

The new course is the latest initiative to cut the dropout rate. Basic infantry training has been extended from 12 to 14 weeks at an extra cost of £3,000 per soldier. Trainers instead of leather boots are now worn on runs to save soft feet from blistering.

Other changes to make army life more bearable for modern teenagers have included introducing rations such as chicken balti and curried lamb instead of traditional stodge such as corned beef hash.

Last year, the army changed its weight criteria for recruits, raising the maximum permitted body mass index from 28 to 32 — meaning that a 6ft recruit could weigh as much as 16st 11lb and still be admitted. Commanders claimed the change was to prevent muscular recruits being excluded, but the National Audit Office found that two-thirds of British 16-year-olds were too heavy to fall within the earlier limit.

Only elite forces such as the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines, which are both oversubscribed, have managed to avoid making the same compromises with softer civilian life.

The army cannot afford to be too choosy over fitness as demand for new recruits is growing. It needs an average 14,000 soldiers a year to replace those leaving and is currently 2,000 below target strength.

The Catterick course is based on a scheme in the Singapore army, which cut dropout rates by 55%. It is intended to target the bottom fifth of recruits who perform worst in the 1Åmile run, part of preliminary selection.

“It’s not a question of lowering the bar, but of best preparing young recruits who get through selection but are in the lowest 20% of cardiovascular fitness and are most at risk of incurring an injury in training,” Jennings said. He added that life skills training was required for some recruits. In addition to personal hygiene, they needed to be advised on when to give comrades space and when to join in. They were also lectured on diet and other aspects of healthy living.

“They’ll do another mile and a half run at the end of their three weeks and we hope they will have moved up to the next 20% group. So far it is looking very good,” he said.

To pass training, recruits must run a mile and a half in 10 minutes 30 seconds, do 44 press-ups in two minutes and 50 sit-ups in two minutes.

The British initiative mirrors changes in the American army, where drill sergeants are being taught to cut dropout rates by creating a less threatening atmosphere. At Fort Benning, Georgia, recruits are now entitled to dessert with meals rather than having to earn it as a reward and sergeants no longer have the authority to stop them eating fatty food.

2,000 Basra attacks since June

British and allied troops in Iraq have been attacked almost 2,000 times in the past 11 months, according to government figures, writes Peter Almond.

Des Browne, the defence secretary, revealed that soldiers have come under fire from rockets, mortars, grenades and petrol bombs. Since April 1 this year 12 British soldiers have died.

Violence is escalating in Basra. According to local military sources, there has been a fivefold increase in attacks on British troops in the past year.

Michael Yon, an American writer embedded with British troops, said: “Any perception that British forces have it easy down here in Basra is wrong. In the nearly three weeks I’ve been here, I’ve seen more mortar and rocket attacks than during my cumulative time in Iraq.

“During one recent mission eight roadside bombs exploded and vehicles trailing us were struck, with tragic consequences. For the first time I witnessed our British brothers experience the loss of comrades in combat.”

In Basra, about 90% of attacks are against British troops. In other parts of Iraq most of those killed are Iraqi civilians.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu