Navy must get ship-shape

Monday 24 November 1997 00:02 GMT

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Fat or unfit personnel will have to shape up for fitness tests or face the sack from the Royal Navy, it emerged yesterday.

All staff, from sailors to office workers, under the age of 50 will undergo compulsory annual fitness tests from early 1999.

Anyone who fails to meet a minimum standard will be put on a remedial programme and re-tested a few months afterwards. Those consistently unable to slim down will be dismissed.

Ailsa McIntyre, a spokeswoman for the Royal Navy at the Ministry of Defence, said: "This new policy will provide better assurances that people can undertake operational tasks... It brings the Navy into line with the Army, RAF and Marines."

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