Combat Fitness Training

Fitness levels vary greatly depending on the mission of the unit.

Combat fitness training varies greatly depending on the individual unit of soldiers. There is a basic level of fitness required to enter any branch of the military. Boot camp, or basic training, will have the individual in good physical condition by the time graduation arrives. The other extreme is the fitness level of those who have chosen a career in special forces or special operations forces. These units, to a person, are the best conditioned combat personnel in the world.

Basic Standards And "Fitness" Platoon

Recruits are not expected to arrive at basic training in top shape.

The military does not expect a person to arrive in top physical condition. Basic training will take care of that. In the United States, the Marine Corp has the highest standards for a recruit to be allowed to join. For a male, he must be able to do two pull-ups, 35 sit-ups in 2 minutes and run 1.5 miles in 13:30. This is called the Recruit Initial Strength Test. For women, the minimum differs somewhat. Instead of pull-ups, women are tested on a "flexed arm hang." They are in a pull-up position but must only keep their elbows flexed. The minimum passing time is 12 seconds for the arm hang, 35 sit-ups in two minutes and a one-mile run in 10:30. Each branch of the military has a "physical fitness" platoon that recruits will be assigned to if they struggle with fitness during boot camp, men and women. That platoon focuses almost solely on improving recruit fitness. When the individual is fit enough, the person will join the incoming class of recruits. This training keeps recruits in the military instead of sending them home as unfit.

Fitness Standards for Navy SEAL School

Navy SEALS have difficult standards to meet.

Special Operator fitness is much different than the minimum standards. To be admitted to the school that trains Navy SEALs, a person must swim 500 yards in under 12:30, rest 10 minutes, do a minimum of 42 push-ups, rest two minutes, then do 50 sit-ups, rest two more minutes and do six dead-hang pull ups, rest 10 minutes and then run 1.5 miles in boots and trousers in less than 11:30. Those are the minimums and people barely making that standard rarely pass Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS). Competitive marks are 10 minutes on the swim, 79 repetitions on push-ups and sit-ups, 11 pull-ups, and 10:20 on the run. Once school begins ,the student is expected to perform at a stronger pace and the standards are raised. Women are not allowed in Special Operation units, so there are no fitness standards for them.

Preparing to Deploy

Fitness training becomes more urgent for deploying units.

Combat fitness for all soldiers is achieved and maintained in a variety of ways. Endurance and stamina are important to all members of the military, so each unit has several organized runs every week. Fitness centers are maintained at every military institution possible to allow soldiers access to weight training. When units are preparing to deploy, a heightened sense of urgency is given to strength and conditioning, as well as hand-to-hand combat. Some units are taken on marches for 20 or more miles while carrying backpacks weighing in excess of 70 lbs, and women carry less weight but still go the same distance. Run distances are increased. Weight training is increased.

Deployed

Martial arts are part of a soldiers hand-to-hand skills.

Once deployed, fitness is expected to be maintained in the combat zone. As time allows, units have scheduled runs, perform calisthenics and practice hand-to-hand-combat. Workouts in a gym are done where possible. Soldiers sometimes use makeshift weights if none are at hand. A piece of metal pipe with sandbags attached at both ends works well as a makeshift barbell. Team sports, such as football or basketball, become important ways for a soldier to stay fit, as well as relieve the stress of being in a war zone. Fitness training is done with whatever can be used.

Green Beret Fitness

Special forces take combat fitness to a different level.

Special forces, including the Green Berets, are known to be extremely fit. A sample of their workout program includes swimming between 1,000 and 2,000 meters two to three times per week, and running four to five times per week between three and five miles as fast as possible. Also, a special operator may march carrying a backpack weighing 30 to 50 lbs. from five to 15 miles at a fast walk, and performing large numbers of push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups every other day. Combat fitness training varies greatly depending upon the mission of a unit. As mentioned about Navy SEAL training, women are not allowed in Special Operations units, so there are no female fitness standards.

References

• Military: Marine Corp Initial Strength Test
• Navy SEALS: Physical Screening Test Requirements
• Military: Army Green Beret Training