Canada updates military fitness program

Canada has updated its military fitness standards, which officials say will more accurately reflect the physical demands of field operations. Defense Minister Peter MacKay told reporters Monday that the fitness program includes an evaluation system that sets a new minimum physical fitness standard for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The new program, which requires all CAF members to be tested annually, has six common military tasks the Canadian military would encounter in routine domestic and expeditionary operations. MacKay said the new program more accurately represents the physical demands of military operations in the field, and better measures a member's ability to execute those tasks. The Canadian army, navy and air force could start introducing the program from April 1, and it would fully replace the previous system on April 1, 2014.