Presidential Security Service officers at a shooting competition. Photo: Konstantin Lazarev / FSO of Russia
The FSB has proposed lowering the passing scores for physical fitness for candidates applying for military service under contract in the security agencies and for applicants to departmental universities. The outlet Verstka drew attention to the relevant draft order by the special service.
What will change. The document, which is intended to replace the current 2016 FSB order, proposes reducing the minimum physical fitness requirements and introducing a new age scale.
The current male categories of “under 20” and “20–24” would be merged into one: “under 25.” After that, as now, there would be the “25–29” group. The category of “over 30” would be split into several groups, the oldest of which would be “50 and older.”
For women, the number of age groups would increase. The youngest would be “under 25,” and the oldest would be “45 and older” instead of the current “25 and older.”
For the younger groups, the physical fitness requirements would remain almost unchanged, while for the older groups they would become significantly lower, Verstka noted.
New FSB physical fitness requirements. Screenshot from the draft FSB order
Men under 25 would need to score at least 120 points, those aged 25–29 would need 110 points, those aged 30–34 would need 100, and those aged 35–39 would need 90. The reduction would be 28-36%, journalists calculated.
For men aged 40–44, the requirement would be 80 points (42.9% less than now), for those aged 45–49 it would be 70 points (50%), and for men aged 50 and older it would be just 60 points (57.1%).
Similar changes are planned for women. For younger groups, the minimum physical fitness score would decrease by 16-25%, and for older groups by 33-50%, Verstka noted.
How physical fitness is tested. The physical fitness test for the main category of candidates would include one exercise each for strength, speed, and endurance. Men may be assigned pull-ups on a horizontal bar or the bench press, a 100-meter run or shuttle run, as well as a one- or three-kilometer run or a five-kilometer ski race.
Women are offered forward bends, push-ups or a combined strength exercise, a 60- or 100-meter run or shuttle run, as well as a one-kilometer run or a three-kilometer ski race.