FSB Lowers Physical Fitness Standards for Contract Applicants

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has proposed significantly lowering physical fitness requirements for candidates seeking to join the agency through military contracts or enroll in its educational institutions, according to a draft order reviewed by Russian media outlets. The changes mark a departure from standards that have been in place since 2016.

Under the proposed revision, older applicants would face substantially reduced requirements. Men aged 50 and above would need only 60 points out of 140 across three exercises—a reduction of 57.1 percent—while women aged 45 and older would see their requirements cut by 50 percent. For younger candidates, men aged 20 to 39 would see requirements lowered by approximately one-third, and women by about one-quarter. Notably, the FSB plans to maintain current standards only for the youngest applicants: men under 20 would still need 120 points and women 110 points.

The fitness assessments for the main category of candidates involve three types of exercises: one testing strength (such as pull-ups or bench press for men, or forward bends and push-ups for women), one for speed (100-meter or shuttle runs), and one for endurance (1–3 kilometre runs or skiing). The draft order does not explain the rationale for the proposed changes.

In contrast to the general relaxation of standards, requirements for candidates applying to FSB special operations units would be tightened. These applicants would need to complete five physical exercises instead of three, achieve a passing score in swimming and hand-to-hand combat in addition to the general fitness tests, and meet a minimum total score of 450 points with no individual exercise scoring below 60 points (or 50 points for men aged 40 and older). This represents a significant increase in demands compared to the 2016 standards, which required general fitness testing plus only a 100-meter freestyle swim.