Leaked report shows basic training pass rate fell after military recruitment changes

A leaked internal report reveals that the pass rate for basic military training in Canada dropped significantly from 85 percent in 2024 to 77 percent in 2025 following recent recruitment changes. The 15-page evaluation, authored by Lt.-Col. Marc Kieley, commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, highlights rising challenges among recruits, including increased mental health issues and cultural integration difficulties. Defence officials have confirmed the report’s authenticity amid broader efforts to boost military enrolment. The report attributes the decline in training success to a growing number of recruits experiencing mental health conditions such as anxiety, with 92 candidates requiring external hospital or clinic care. Additionally, the proportion of recruits needing multiple attempts to complete basic training nearly doubled, rising to 14.89 percent in 2025 from 8.44 percent the previous year. These figures exceed long-standing annual averages and have caused operational strain within the training school. The report also points to cultural challenges as a factor complicating the training environment. These developments come in the context of recent federal government initiatives aimed at expanding the Canadian Armed Forces by relaxing recruitment standards. Changes include accepting candidates with pre-existing medical conditions, eliminating aptitude tests, and increasing the intake of permanent residents and foreign nationals. While these measures have helped the military achieve its highest recruitment levels in three decades, the report suggests that the basic training model, which assumes an 85 percent success rate with most recruits graduating on their first attempt, is under pressure. The findings raise concerns about the sustainability of current recruitment and training approaches as the Canadian Armed Forces seek to rebuild their ranks after years of decline. The increased failure rate and mental health challenges underscore the need for enhanced support systems and potentially revised training protocols to ensure new recruits can meet the demands of military service.