Regular army and reserve components enlistment program: Summary of change

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN42922-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf

When I joined the army as an infantryman back in the early 2000s there were kids who couldn’t start basic training because they weren’t capable of doing 6 pushups. 6.

I believe at the time they were allowing 38 year olds to join for the first time which seemed crazy to me. Now that I’m in my early 40s I can’t imagine going back in

If they want to draft any significant number of people, they will have to greatly lower the fitness standards.
And raise the pay.