Chinese military relaxes physical rules for non-combat, hi-tech troops. But there’s a catch
- All applicants, combatants or not, must be able to stand the sight of blood, according to CCTV report on new PLA selection standards
- Strict physical rules and surgical history less relevant for certain positions in era of advanced weapons and medical science, military official says
However, there is one condition. Any applicant – even for non-combat positions – who cannot stand the sight of blood would be rejected, state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting newly published medical selection standards for the People’s Liberation Army.
The new standards would apply to all candidates seeking to become PLA officers, whether they were soldiers seeking promotion or university graduates wanting to join the ranks, as well as non-combat positions, Wednesday’s report said.
The addition of new combat forces and the push to hire professional and technical personnel required the military to customise the physical and mental qualities required, the Chinese defence ministry said.
“We need to optimise and adjust the physical examination and selection standards as we take into account the current physical fitness of our recruitment-age youth and the specific needs of different positions in various branches of the armed forces,” the PLA Daily quoted a Central Military Commission official responsible for the drafting of the new standards as saying.