[Health and military service. The loss of conscripts because of various medical grounds]

250 conscripts who met for basic training in 1976 were followed to 1984. All the 250 conscripts were among those found fit for active service (fit for combat) at the first medical examination in 1975. In 1984 only 50% of the 250 were still considered fit for active service. During the period of 12 months' basic training and the seven years that followed a considerable reduction of the number of fit for active service had taken place on medical grounds. Based on these findings we estimate the expected reduction of conscripts fit for active service in future cohorts. The reduction on medical grounds, combined with the effect of declining birth rates, leads to a marked decrease in the number of fit conscripts who have completed basic training. The number of fit conscripts will probably be smaller than estimated need of the Services for fit men.