Military now accepting recruits with asthma, ADHD and other conditions amid staffing shortage [Video]

As the Canadian Armed Forces continue to try and dig out of a deep recruitment hole, they’re starting to give new recruits with medical conditions a shot at joining the military rather than automatically turning them away.

Maj.-Gen. Scott Malcolm, the military’s surgeon general, says the forces will now consider applicants with “any and all conditions” for enrolment, including ADHD, anxiety and asthma.

“With all medical conditions there’s a spectrum,” said Malcolm. “So those that are on the lower end to medium spectrum are unlikely to have any challenges getting in.”

Canada’s military is short more than 13,600 members in its regular and reserve forces combined. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan said this week the focus is on restoring the regular force to 71,500 members, and reserve force to 30,000 members.

To try and hit that target by 2029, the Canadian Armed Forces is making a series of …