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<p>The Army takes the safety of applicants and Serving personnel extremely seriously.
Following the deaths of two Commonwealth applicants, a version of the NHS Family Origins
Questionnaire is now used at assessment centres to screen all candidates. This enables
a medical assessment identifying those at risk of Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) with a follow
on blood test as necessary. Those who are found to be SCT negative can participate
as normal in the Role Fitness Test (Entry) including a 2km run at the assessment centre.
Candidates who have passed all other parts of the assessment but who have been identified
as SCT positive are offered a tailored pre conditioning course to mitigate against
Exertional Collapse Associated to Sickle Cell Trait (ECAST). This process has been
developed based on an Evidence-Based Medicine approach drawing on available research
and NHS best practice, tempered by best available experience of UK Subject Matter
Experts and US Armed Forces. The inquests into the two tragic deaths are yet to take
place, but a full response to the Coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths Report is
being prepared, which will include direction on identifying and supporting serving
military personnel who are as yet undiagnosed as SCT positive.</p>
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