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China to give army recruits psychological tests

28 May 2007 05:50:44 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, May 28 (Reuters) - China is insisting that all new army recruits first obtain a clean bill of mental health to ensure they are "suited to a military career", state media reported on Monday.

Last year, the 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) banned chronic snorers, drug-takers, tattoo-wearers and overweight applicants from joining its ranks.

Psychological tests, which had been piloted for two years, would become standard from June when military academies start annual recruitment, the Xinhua news agency said, citing an official army newspaper.

"With China increasingly aware of the importance of good mental health among its armed forces, the PLA headquarters issued a set of new recruitment rules last year, requiring that China's military colleges carry out drug and psychological tests when recruiting would-be military officials," Xinhua said.

New recruits would be required to complete computer-based written tests and face-to-face interviews, Xinhua said.

For example, applicants for military strategy majors would need to sit a one-hour written exam with 700 to 800 questions before being granted an interview, Xinhua said, citing officials at a military medical university in Xian, capital of Shaanxi province.

Staff from 140 recruitment and health check offices had been trained and a psychological testing centre set up in the medical university.

More than 100,000 applicants had already taken the tests, Xinhua said.

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Last updated:Mon May 28 05:53:22 2007