Army training exercises are comprehensive and focus on both endurance and strength-building. Fitness conditioning is part of the overall strategic goals of the U.S. Army to prepare soldiers for the stresses of deploying into hostile territory to engage in combat or peacekeeping operations.
Endurance Training
Running is the primary exercise for endurance. Runs are typically conducted early in the morning with a stretching and warm-up phase prior to starting the run. Runs are two to five miles long, but can go up to 10 miles based on the abilities of the soldiers involved. Road marches are another commonly used endurance exercise. Soldiers are required to complete a 12-mile march in three hours or less, with full uniform and combat equipment. The goal of this type of training is to keep soldiers' endurance level high and to increase their ability to survive on the battlefield.
Strength Training
Weight training is the primary form of strength training used in the Army. Frequent visits to the gym are made individually or as a unit. Obstacle courses are another commonly used strength exercise. Each station of an obstacle course requires you to perform a specific task, such as scaling a wall, climbing a rope, push-ups, sit-ups or chin-ups. Obstacle courses are a very effective method to increase both strength and endurance.
Master Fitness Trainer
The U.S. Army Master Fitness Course has been around for about 20 years and was developed to train soldiers from individual units as fitness trainers. They take their acquired knowledge back to their units and assist commanders in developing and implementing effective fitness training programs.
U.S. Army Combatives Training
Combatives training is a relatively new concept to the Army. The program trains soldiers in basic hand-to-hand techniques and is similar to a mixed martial arts program. The program is designed to teach soldiers fighting skills and remove the fear they will face if they have to engage the enemy in close quarters.
Overall Goal
The overall goal of all physical fitness training in the U.S. Army is to increase the survivability and lethality of the individual soldier.
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