The military is dropping its aptitude test from the application process for dozens of jobs and accepting more new recruits with pre-existing medical conditions — trial efforts meant to boost the Canadian Armed Forces' dismal recruitment numbers.As part of a new trial to boost recruitment, the Canadian Armed Forces is no longer requiring some applicants to take aptitude tests. The military says it also will start screening in more people with pre-existing medical conditions by early summer.
Among its new initiatives to turn around recruitment numbers, the military is looking to eliminate two potential barriers. All recruits must now meet a single medical standard that may be too rigid, Brodie said, while the aptitude test also may be holding people back. DND says that, to be eligible to apply without writing the aptitude test, applicants must have university degrees or college diplomas, "meet ideal educational requirements for their selected occupations, or ... have relevant education, work and life experience."Ottawa-based military recruiter Sgt. Cynthia St-Jean said some people simply "don't like tests" and she believes this change can help.
Brodie said the department also is working on allowing applicants to complete their aptitude tests at home on their smartphones, but that measure is at least a year away.Later this spring or in the early summer, the military is expected to launch a second trial that will attempt to boost recruitment by easing up on medical requirements.
The applicant asked not be named, saying he fears it could jeopardize his chances when he re-applies. He said the military told him he could repeat his allergy test or start eating a small amount of peanut butter daily to see if he can rid himself of the allergy. He said he plans to try.