Search

This study assessed soldier's physical demands and energy balance during the Section Commanders' Battles Course (SCBC). Forty male soldiers were monitored during the 8-week tactics phase of the SCBC. Energy expenditure was measured using the doubly labeled water method. Cardiovascular strain (heart rate) and physical activity (using triaxial accelerometer) were also monitored. Average sized portions of meals were weighed, with all recipes and meals entered into a dietary analysis program to calculate the calorie content. Energy expenditure averaged 19.6 ± 1.8 MJ · d(-1) in weeks 2 to 3 and 21.3 ± 2.0 MJ · d(-1) in weeks 6 to 7. Soldiers lost 5.1 ± 2.6 kg body mass and body fat percent decreased from 23 ± 4% to 19 ± 5%. This average weight loss equates to an estimated energy deficit of 2.69 MJ · d(-1). The Army provided an estimated 14.0 ± 2.2 MJ · d(-1) in weeks 2 to 3 and 15.7 ± 2.2 MJ · d(-1) in weeks 6 to 7. Although this provision adheres to the minimum requirement of 13.8 MJ · d(-1) set by Army regulations, soldiers were in a theoretical 5.6 MJ · d(-1) energy deficit. The physical demands of SCBC were high, and soldiers were in energy deficit resulting in loss in body mass; primarily attributed to a loss in fat mass., (Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

In the United Kingdom, all branches of the armed forces use 2.4-km run time and/or the 20-m multistage shuttle run test (MSRT) to assess the aerobic fitness of their personnel. This study quantified the relationship between these two tests in 156 army recruits and officer cadets (100 men and 56 women) to ensure equivalence in the required aerobic fitness standards. The 2.4-km run was performed on surfaced roads and tracks around the training establishment and the MSRT in a gymnasium. Ordinary least product regression was used to describe the relationship between average 2.4-km running speed (km · h(-1)) and the total number of shuttles completed on the U.K. version of the MSRT (r = 0.91, p < 0.01), showing MSRT shuttles = (9.708×2.4-km run speed) - 52.56, with a standard error of prediction of approximately 8 shuttles or 0.8 km · h(-1). The British Army 2.4-km run biannual fitness assessment standard for young men of 10:30 min:s equates to a MSRT score of 82 shuttles (level 10 and 1 shuttle) and for young women of 13:00 min:s equates to 56 shuttles (level 7 and 6 shuttles), with a standard error of estimate of approximately 8 shuttles., (Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

This study compared the physical demands and progression of basic training for male and female British Army recruits in single-sex platoons. Thirty male and 30 female recruits were monitored for energy expenditure (EE) (doubly labeled water), physical activity (3-dimensional accelerometry) and cardiovascular strain (percent heart rate reserve) during 6 weeks over the 14-week course. First time pass rate was similar for male (60%) and female (57%) recruits. Average daily percent heart rate reserve (female 31 +/- 4%; male 32 +/- 5%), physical activity levels (female 2.2 +/- 0.2; male 2.3 +/- 0.2) and percentage improvements in 2.4-km run time (female 10 +/- 4%; male 10 +/- 5%) were similar for both sexes (p > 0.05), although male recruits had 12% higher physical activity counts (p < 0.01). Although the absolute physical demands of basic training were greater for male recruits, the relative cardiovascular strain experienced was similar between sexes.

Objective: To quantify the health, fitness, and physiological responses to military training of Officer Cadets from a Gulf Cooperation Council country., Methods: One hundred and nineteen Officer Cadets volunteered; body composition, core body temperature, aerobic fitness, hydration status (urine osmolality), cardiovascular strain, physical activity (3-dimensional accelerometry), and energy expenditure (doubly labelled water) were measured over 5-days of Basic Training (BT), Army Training (AT), Navy Training (NT), and Air Force Training (AFT)., Results: There were no differences between courses for body mass index (mean all courses: 24.1 +/- 4.1 kg x m2) or peak core body temperature (mean all courses: 38.1 +/- 0.4 degrees C) (p > 0.05). AT body fat (19.8 +/- 3.6%) and BT VO2 max (36.8 +/- 11.6 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) were lower than the other courses (BT, 26.1 +/- 8.1; NT, 26.0 +/- 6.0; AFT, 24.7 +/- 6.1%) and (AT, 44.8 +/- 9.6; NT, 45.0 +/- 7.5; AFT, 44.6 +/- 5.2 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)), respectively (p < 0.05). NT urine osmolality (979 +/- 90 mOsmol x kg(-1)) was similar to BT (946 +/- 181 mOsmol x kg(-1) p > 0.05) but lower in AT (868 +/- 144 mOsmol x kg(-1), p < 0.05) and AFT (883 +/- 121 mOsmol x kg(-1), p < 0.05). Cardiovascular strain during NT (22 +/- 5% HRR) was lower than other courses (range, 25 +/- 4-29 +/- 3% Heart Rate Reserve) (p < 0.05). Physical activity level during AFT (1.70 +/- 0.18 AU) was lower than other courses (range, 1.86 +/- 0.21-1.92 +/- 0.18 AU) (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Positive developments were apparent from BT leading into other courses. Potential exists to increase physical training volume on all courses, which may improve participants' aerobic fitness, body composition, and health.

This study examined gender differences in the physical demands of British Army recruit training in 3 platoons with different gender compositions. Subjects wore heart rate monitors to measure cardiovascular strain and accelerometers to measure physical activity during weeks 1, 6, and 9 of the 12-week program. There was no difference in physical activity between platoons or genders (p > 0.05). In the mixed gender platoon, males operated at a lower cardiovascular strain than females (24 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 2% heart rate reserve (HRR), p < 0.001), probably because of their greater aerobic fitness (p < 0.001). Males in the mixed gender platoon experienced lower cardiovascular strain than the male-only platoon (24 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 2% HRR, p < 0.001). Females experienced the same degree of cardiovascular strain, irrespective of platoon (33 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 3% HRR, p = 0.814). The additional cardiovascular strain experienced by female recruits may increase fatigue and predisposition to overuse musculoskeletal injury.

This study aimed to identify risk factors for training injuries resulting in referral to a remedial instructor (RI) or medical discharge (MD) among British Army recruits undertaking initial training. Physical performance and anthropometric data for 11,937 male and 1,480 female recruits were examined as potential risk factors for RI referral and MD, using Cox regression. There was a trend showing that female recruits' MD rates were higher than male recruits' rates (p = 0.096), and RI referral rates were significantly greater for women than for men (p = 0.041). The independent risk factors for MD were 2.4-km run time, ethnicity, and Army training regiment attended (p < 0.001), and those for RI referral were 2.4-km run time, ethnicity, Army training regiment attended, and body mass index (p < 0.001). Gender was not an independent risk factor for injury, suggesting that lower levels of aerobic fitness are the primary cause of the greater incidence of injury among female recruits during British Army initial training.

The objective of this research was to determine whether tests of strength, endurance, and anthropometry could be used to assess training-induced changes (delta) in load-carriage performance. Eighty-four British Army recruits completed a 10-week training program. Strength, endurance, body composition, and 3.2-km load carriage with 15 kg and 25 kg were assessed before and after training. Training significantly increased load-carriage performance (7-16%), back extension and dynamic lifting strengths, endurance and fat-free mass, and reduced body fat. Statistically significant regression models (adjusted R2 of 0.063-0.797) were produced that predicted delta load-carriage performance. However, the 95% limits of agreement between observed and predicted delta load-carriage data showed margins of error (11-15%) comparable to the average training-induced gains in performance. Training-induced changes in load-carriage performance appear to be highly specific, which suggests that both training and testing procedures should also be specific to load-carriage performance.