Components of Fitness (army fitness physical training)

Physical fitness is the ability to function
effectively in physical work, training,
and other activities and still have
enough energy left over to handle any
emergencies which may arise.
The components of physical fitness
are as follows:
• Cardiorespiratory (CR) endurancethe
efficiency with which the
body delivers oxygen and nutrients
needed for muscular activity and
transports waste products from the
cells.
• Muscular strength - the greatest
amount of force a muscle or muscle
group can exert in a single effort.
• Muscular endurance - the ability of
a muscle or muscle group to perform
repeated movements with a
sub-maximal force for extended
periods of times.
• Flexibility-the ability to move the
joints (for example, elbow, knee) or
any group of joints through an
entire, normal range of motion.
• Body composition-the amount of
body fat a soldier has in comparison
to his total body mass.
Improving the first three components
of fitness listed above will have
a positive impact on body composition
and will result in less fat. Excessive
body fat detracts from the other fitness
components, reduces performance,
detracts from appearance, and
negatively affects one’s health.
Factors such as speed, agility, muscle
power, eye-hand coordination, and
eye-foot coordination are classified as
components of “motor” fitness. These
factors affect a soldier’s survivability
on the battlefield. Appropriate training
can improve these factors within
the limits of each soldier’s potential.
The Army’s fitness program seeks to
improve or maintain all the components
of physical and motor fitness through sound, progressive, missionspecific
physical training for individuals
and units.
Army Fitness Physical Training

‘COMMAND FUNCTIONS

‘COMMAND FUNCTIONS

Commanders must evaluate the effectiveness
of physical fitness training
and ensure that it is focused on the
unit’s missions. They can evaluate its
effectiveness by participating in and
observing training, relating their fitness
programs to the unit’s missions,
and analyzing individual and unit APFT
performance.
Leaders should regularly measure
the physical fitness level of every
soldier to evaluate his progress and determine
the success of the unit’s program.
Commanders should assure that
qualified leaders supervise and conduct
fitness training and use their
MFTs, for they have received comprehensive
training in this area.
Commanders must
ensure that the time
alloted for physical
fitness training is used
effectively.
Training times is wasted by the following:
• Unprepared or unorganized leaders.
• Assignment fo a group which us too
large for one leader.
• Insufficient training intensity: it
will result in no improvement.
• Rates of progression that are too
slow or too fast.
• Extreme faomality that usually
emphasizes form over substance.
An example would be too many
units runs at slow paces or "daily
dozen" activities that look impressive
but do not result in impovement.
• Inadequate facilities which cause
long waiting periods between exercises
during a workout and/or between
workouts.
• Long rest periods which interfere
with progress.
Leaders can learn about fitness traini
n g i n t h e f o l l o w i n g w a y s :
• Attend the four-week MFT course
or one-week Exercise Leaders
Course.
• Request a fitness workshop from
the Army Physical Fitness School.
• Become familiar with the Army's
fitness publications. Important examples
include this manual, AR
350-15, and DA Pamphlets 350-15,
350-18, and 350-22.
Commanders must provide adequate
facilities and funds to support a program
which will improve each soldier’s
level of physical fitness. They must
also be sure that everyone participates,
since all individuals, regardless of rank,
age, or sex, benefit from regular exercise.
In some instances, leaders will
need to make special efforts to overcome
recurring problems which interfere
with regular training.
Leaders must also make special efforts
to provide the correct fitness
training for soldiers who are physically
substandard. “Positive profiling”
(DA Form 3349) permits and encourages
profiled soldiers to do as much as
they can within the limits of their
profiles. Those who have been away
from the conditioning process because
of leave, sickness, injury, or travel
may also need special consideration.
Commanders must ensure that the
time allotted for physical fitness training
is used effectively.

Leadership Responsibilities

Effective leadership is critical to
the success of a good physical training
program. Leaders, especially senior
leaders, must understand and practice
the new Army doctrine of physical fitness.
They must be visible and active
participants in physical training programs.
In short, leaders must lead PT!
Their example will emphasize the
importance of physical fitness training
and will highlight it as a key element
of the unit’s training mission.
Leaders must emphasize the value
of physical training and clearly explain
the objectives and benefits of the
program. Master Fitness Trainers
(MFTs), graduates of a special course
taught by the U.S. Army Physical
Fitness School, can help commanders
do this. However, regardless of the
level of technical experience MFTs
have, the sole responsibility for good
programs rests with leaders at every
level.
A poorly designed and executed
physical fitness program hurts morale.
A good program is well planned and
organized, has reasonable yet challenging
requirements, and is competitive
and progressive. It also has
command presence at every level with
leaders setting the example for their
soldiers.
Leaders should also continually assess
their units to determine which
specific components of fitness they
lack. Once they identify the shortcomings,
they should modify their
programs to correct the weaknesses.
Leaders should not punish soldiers
who fail to perform to standard.
Punishment, especially excessive repetitions
or additional PT, often does
more harm than good. Leaders must
plan special training to help soldiers
who need it. The application of sound
leadership techniques is especially
important in bringing physically deficient
soldiers up to standard.

Introduction

Army Fitness Physical Training

A soldier’s level of physical fitness'
has a direct impact on his combat
readiness. The many battles in which
American troops have fought underscore
the important role physical fitness
plays on the battlefield. The
renewed nationwide interest in fitness
has been accompanied by many research
studies on the effects of regular
participation in sound physical fitness
programs. The overwhelming conclusion
is that such programs enhance a
person’s quality of life, improve productivity,
and bring about positive
physical and mental changes. Not only
are physically fit soldiers essential to
the Army, they are also more likely to
have enjoyable, productive lives.
This chapter provides an overview
of fitness. It defines physical fitness,
outlines the phases of fitness, and
discusses various types of fitness programs
and fitness evaluation. Commanders
and leaders can use this information
to develop intelligent, combatrelated,
physical fitness programs.
Physical fitness, the emphasis of
this manual, is but one component of
total fitness. Some of the “others are
weight control, diet and nutrition,
stress management, dental health, and
spiritual and ethical fitness, as well as
the avoidance of hypertension, substance
abuse, and tobacco use. This
manual is primarily concerned with
issues relating directly to the development
and maintenance of the five
components of physical fitness.
The Army’s physical fitness training
program extends to all branches of
the total Army. This includes the
USAR and ARNG and encompasses all
ages and ranks and both sexes. Its
purpose is to physically condition all
soldiers throughout their careers beginning
with initial entry training (IET).
It also includes soldiers with limiting
physical profiles who must also participate
in physical fitness training.
Commanders and leaders must ensure
that all soldiers in their units
maintain the highest level of physical
fitness in accordance with this manual
and with AR 350-15 which prescribes
policies, procedures, and responsibilities
for the Army physical fitness
program.