Swiss army: young people in good shape, especially women

In Switzerland, future soldiers continue to show good physical condition. In 2024, the army fitness test (TFA), in which young men and women committed volunteers participate during their recruitment, made it possible to confirm the trend of recent years: the vast majority of young adults move enough. Better still, they progress slightly.

According to data published this Wednesday by the Federal Sports Office (OFSPO), the participants obtained an average of 67.8 points out of 125, or 0.2 more points than in 2023. A slight increase, but a positive sign for public health and army officials.

If men have generally retained their level, women, who represent only 1.5% of participants, saw their average drop to 43.9 points, compared to 45.4 last year. However, they are more numerous to be considered as trained in the sense of recommendations in terms of physical activity: 63.8% against 55.9% in men.

Another positive indicator: almost 80% of the 31,572 respondents to the questionnaire on sports habits reach the minimum recommendations of the Confederation (150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of intense activity per week).

At the army fitness test (TFA), young people are evaluated on five exercises: leap in length without momentum, 2kg balloon jet, trunk strength test, balance on a leg and endurance test. Each test is up to 25 points. A quarter of men (25.4%) and almost a third of women (31.2%) obtained enough points to receive the army sports badge (respectively 80 and 55 points necessary).

Some conscripts stand out particularly: 19 of them jumped more than 3 m, a feat close to the performance of high -level athletes. The global record for leap without momentum is currently 3.73 m.