Australia allows overweight, mild asthmatics to enlist

Australia will lower its recruitment standards for its Army in the near future, allowing overweight and mild asthmatics to sign up for duty.

Prime Minister John Howard last week unveiled a plan to add two new battalions, or 2,600 troops to the Army, despite sagging recruitment numbers.

Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, head of the Australian army, told Reuters he was confident the Army could meet the Prime Minister's new proposed troop numbers even if it means lowering standards.

"Sure some people might be a bit overweight, but we're good at getting people fit and taking the weight off them," Leahy told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television and reported by the news service.

"Clearly, we won't be able to take people who suffer very badly from asthma, but for those who might have had it as a child or might be just suffering on the edges, again concessions can be made and we can make sure that they're fit and healthy," he said.

Australia has recently faced problems with a dwindling military that is stretched thin all over the world. A recent survey found 30 percent of those enlisted were considering quitting the service.