Rita Panahi: Gender quotas make a joke of Army’s female fitness test
IF A cheese-loving, exercise-avoiding 41-year-old mother can pass an army fitness test then it’s probably best to revisit why you have one in the first place, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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THERE’S something desperately wrong with the Australian Army’s admission standards when someone with a profound aversion to exercise can breeze past their fitness tests.
I haven’t darkened the doorstep of a gymnasium in years. I’d rather indulge in brisket than a brisk walk.
And yet if I wanted to join the Australian Army I would not only pass the initial test but I would also ace the fitness test army hopefuls take after completing a seven-week women-only Army Pre-conditioning Course.
In an effort to boost female representation the army is lowering standards for female candidates as well as imposing a 12-month ban on men being recruited for many roles including combat positions.
All female candidates have to do to qualify for the seven week course is a measly four push-ups and 20 sit-ups.
I think there’s every chance my mum could pass that test.
After the pre-conditioning course the women must be able to complete eight push-ups and 45 sit-ups before they can join the regular training program. Those fitness tests seem pitifully low.
If a cheese-loving-exercise-avoiding 41-year-old mother can pass your fitness test then it’s probably best to revisit why you have one in the first place.
The Australian Army’s priority should be the defence of Australia, not to be representative of the wider population.
This obsession with gender quotas only damages morale and undermines the women in the armed forces who got there on merit, not as quota fillers.
Are we going to have other quotas to ensure the Army is fully representative of society? Should there be quotas for religion, ethnicity, sexuality?
Positive discrimination, whether in the form of quotas or affirmative action, may be well intentioned but it often has many undesired consequences including undermining minorities who won their roles due purely to their ability.
The gender diversity drive was championed by former Army chief David Morrison.
Morrison, who is loathed by many former and current servicemen, brought ridicule to the Australian of the Year honour by lecturing the nation on the evils of using gendered terms such as “guys”.
The harsh reality is that a choice needs to be made between diversity targets and standards.
You can’t have meritocracy if you impose mandatory quotas that dictate how many women or minorities must be selected.
The ‘strength through diversity’ nonsense might wash with some organisations but not one trusted with the defence of the country.
Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist.
Follow Rita on Twitter @RitaPanahi or read her blog.
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