A leaked report from the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) indicates a concerning decline in the basic training pass rate for military recruits, falling from 85% in 2024 to 77% in 2025. The report, dated January 27, highlights several challenges faced by new recruits, including a rise in mental health issues, particularly anxiety, and cultural acclimatization difficulties. The report noted that 14.89% of recruits required multiple attempts to graduate, a significant increase from 8.44% in the previous year. These changes come in the wake of relaxed recruitment policies intended to boost enrolment, including the acceptance of permanent residents and the elimination of aptitude tests. The report also pointed out that some training units experienced cultural shocks, particularly among recruits with minimal residency in Canada, which led to higher failure rates. Lt.-Col. Marc Kieley, who authored the report, expressed concerns over the mental health of recruits and recommended monitoring candidates with pre-existing medical conditions more closely.