A very interesting debate here, with some good points on both sides. However as long as we have a Labour government in power, it's all rather academic really.
Unfortunately the only thing defending us at the moment is our geographical location - certainly not our obese combat ready 5000 or so personnel. Donuts be afraid!
Yeah, that's a little embarrasing isn't it!
I'm not making excuses, but a this reflects what's going on in wider society. Plenty of non-military tubbies roaming (or should I say "waddling") the streets out there too.
Some of our younger recruits are sporting some serious "condition". I reckon I'm in better shape then some half my age.
However the ADF is hamstrung by all sorts of rules which essentially require it to pussy-foot around the issue, rather than call a spade a spade and make some of these people "shape up or ship out".