Proposed Performance Standards for the Plank for Inclusion Consideration Into the Navy\u27s Physical Readiness Test

Since 1982, the U.S. Navy has used the curl-up as part of its semiannual physical readiness test (PRT) to assess core muscular endurance. Although no formal study has been conducted yet, there is speculation that the incorporation of the curl-up into the PRT has contributed to the navy\u27s lower back injury rate. Therefore, there has been considerable interest as of late to identify a safer (and more operationally relevant) alternative to the curl-up. The following article takes a formal look at the standard front plank as a possible replacement for the curl-up for incorporation into the Navy\u27s PRT

Modernizing the Navy’s Physical Readiness Test: Introducing the Navy General Fitness Test and Navy Operational Fitness Test

The lessons learned from recent combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown operational commanders that the military fitness tests currently used by the different services are inadequate in terms of assessing the physical fitness required for combat. Currently, only the U.S. Marine Corps employs a combat specific fitness test; although the U.S. Army and Air Force have recognized the need and rationale for one as well. Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy continues to lag behind the other services in terms of modernizing its physical fitness training and testing programs. The purpose of this article is four-fold: 1) justify the need for service-specific combat fitness tests, 2) discuss past and current examples service-specific combat fitness tests, 3) introduce a revised general fitness test intended to replace the current Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT), and 4) propose an operational fitness test that could be adopted and employed by the U.S. Navy

The Navy Physical Fitness Test: A Proposed Revision to the Navy Physical Readiness Test

The Department of Defense mandates that each branch of the Armed Forces develop and use annual Physical Fitness Tests to assess the physical readiness of their service-members. In an attempt to improve test validity and better predict battlefield performance, most of the services have made significant changes in recent years to their physical fitness tests. However, the Navy\u27s Physical Readiness Test has remained relatively unchanged since 1986. This article introduces a revised Physical Fitness Test, the Navy Physical Fitness Test, that offers significantly improved validity and operational relevance

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY: A SCENARIO ANALYSIS

Over the years agricultural technology has created remarkable commodity production growth rates and enhanced general economic growth through food production, manufactured goods and trade for most nations. Biotechnology holds the promise of continuing this remarkable record. There is a long list of potential benefits of biotechnology but unfortunately the perceived costs/risks are also many. These concerns have lead to significant consumer reluctance to accept the technology and, in some cases, outright consumer rejection of the technology. To discuss the future of biotechnology, scenario analysis is used to examine the social and economic impact of biotechnology on industrialized and emerging nations. Four scenarios are discussed in detail: biotechnology may be formally or informally banned (Scenario 1), fully accepted (Scenario 2), marketed through strict labeling (Scenario 3), or limited to non-food applications (Scenario 4). Consumer acceptance of this technology will be key to determining which scenario becomes the future for each nation. The likelihood of each scenario is different for each nation, the U.S. will most likely evolve into scenario 2 or 3, while in the EU scenarios 1 or 4 are more likely. Determining the future for emerging nations is extremely complex and dependent on several factors like malnutrition rates, environmental safety and historical trading routes. Each scenario has a major impact on small producers worldwide which ultimately influences the health of rural communities. The analysis indicates that emerging nations are the most sensitive to the timing of decisions being made about the future of biotechnology. If biotechnology becomes a reality, new data will be required to assess the social and economic impact of this technology.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,