Get fit for Christmas with army

Worried by falling levels of fitness among potential recruits, the Defence Force has produced an app that can have a slob ready to be a soldier within six weeks.

Not that the app is meant just for potential recruits.

Anyone with a hankering to shape up can download it free.

The move has support from within the fitness industry, with one personal trainer hoping plenty of people with no intention of joining the Defence Force will give it a go.

The app – Force Fit – was produced after recruiters noticed more young people were failing the entry-level fitness test.

The app’s six-week programme is a back-tobasics approach the force uses every day to keep its staff fit.

It helps candidates for recruitment get ready for their initial fitness tests to join the navy, army or air force.

According to the app, someone wanting to join the army should aim to run 2.4km in 10min 30sec, do 28 press-ups and 60 curl-ups.

‘‘We can see keeping fit and staying healthy is a struggle for many New Zealanders, so we felt an obligation to do something that would not only help prepare our recruits, but could also inspire the country to make fitness their mission,’’ Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating said.

Wellington personal trainer Alex Vaney said the programme would be a good start for people wanting to get fit.

‘‘I reckon that would be steering in the right direction, ‘‘ he said.

The level of fitness targeted for the end of the six-week programme seemed a healthy goal for a normal person, Vaney said.