Push comes to shove in army gender war

THE first fitness test women have to pass to join the Australian Army is four push-ups, News Corp can reveal.

If female hopefuls can manage that bare minimum they are sent on a seven-week pre- conditioning course to get them fit to take the actual army recruit course.

The graded fitness levels are part of the bid to double the number of women in the armed forces, which has also involved top brass putting a 12month ban on men being recruited for many roles including combat positions.

After an initial test of four push-ups and 20 sit-ups, women are given seven weeks training in order to be able to do the eight push-ups and 45 sit-ups to start training proper.

But despite the gentle introduction, less than one in eight women who get into the military and try for combat roles actually makes it to a fighting unit — a dropout rate four times higher than that of men. Defence says women are more likely to be injured — possibly because training includes carrying 40-60kg packs and casualty rescue exercises which involve dragging an 80kg mannequin 50m.

Males are also furious they have to promise at least six years’ service once they sign up for combat roles while that is just two years for women. DID not receive confirmation he had renounced his British citizenship until months after his election.

Born to an Australian mother and Welsh father in India in 1955, and came to Australia when he was aged about seven.

Confident of surviving any High Court challenge to his eligibility to sit in parliament.