Royal Navy recruits no longer need to be swimmers

Anyone seeking to join the Royal Navy will no longer have to prove they can swim amid what one defense source described as a “desperate” relaxation of standards to address a recruitment crisis.

but one royal navy A spokesman dismissed the criticism, saying standards had not been lowered because all recruits still had to pass a swimming test during training.

It just means that people who can’t swim or are weak swimmers no longer have to take lessons on their own time before signing up – something that could put off potential candidates.

However, the source said there were concerns about changes to entry requirements, which will mean there will no longer be a 30-minute swim test before recruitment.

One source, who asked not to be named, said: “In a sign of real urgency to boost recruitment numbers, being able to swim will no longer be an entry requirement to join the Royal Navy.”

Navy chiefs have been under pressure to boost recruitment numbers after a severe drop last year. According to Sky News.

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in February that the situation was improving, with the number of applications to join the navy reaching its highest level in eight years.

But sources said insiders were concerned that standards were being lowered.

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Regarding swimming, sources said future applicants will be able to “self-declare” that they can swim.

If they fail the Royal Navy swimming test, they will continue with stage one of basic training while receiving swimming lessons.

That means the men will be put on the payroll (funded by taxpayers) and increase hiring, but won’t quickly move to the next phase as deployable sailors, sources said.

The Navy may also need to find more swimming coaches as a result of this change.

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“It’s really a race to the bottom.”

The source said: “I absolutely understand that there is a growing problem of young people being able to swim, so maintaining a swimming test may be seen as reducing the ‘qualified candidate pool’, but when do we say enough is enough?” ? “

Asked how the change was going internally, the source said: “Angry, pure utter anger… It’s a race to the bottom – literally, a race to the bottom.”

The source said: “They are [the navy] Has any real thought been given to what is best for the recruit? Recruits who cannot swim require additional training, so their training “day” will be longer. Surely it would be best for everyone (including taxpayers) to avoid this by learning to swim before joining?

“And what’s the use of ‘speeding up’ recruitment of a very small number of people, only to slow down their training?

“What we need is to ’empower the trainers’ – which means training quickly to be fully prepared for the front line.

“It’s just spin, a distraction – they’re desperate.”

“The required swimming ability has not changed”

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “All Royal Navy and Royal Marines candidates must successfully pass a swimming test to pass phase one of training and the level of swimming ability required has not changed.

“Recruiting and retaining talent is an absolute priority, which is why we’re taking a series of steps to accelerate recruitment.

“These changes are intended to reduce delays for candidates who are eligible to join while maintaining the same level of swimming ability.”