Total defence was a cornerstone of Sweden’s defence policy during the Cold War, and conscription formed a key pillar of this strategy. Military service was mandatory for men, and the principle of placing ‘the right man in the right place’ required extensive efforts to assess individual suitability for various roles. At the Swedish Defence Research Establishment [Försvarets forskningsanstalt] (FOA), and particularly within its division for human sciences, sports research was employed in the 1970s to inform debates on recruitment by evaluating the physical capacities of women and men over the age of 47. These studies demonstrated that older men retained physical abilities longer than previously assumed and that women met established military standards, thereby revealing untapped potential within the population. Sports research was thus reframed as a strategic resource for national defence, illustrating its adaptability and political significance beyond civilian sport and training, serving as a tool for advancing military capability and realizing defence objectives.