Canetti, Elisa

Orr, Rob Marc

Pope, Rodney R

Schram, Ben

English

The need to physically train soldiers for combat can be traced back to the tome Epitoma rei militaris, by Flavius Renatus (circa 500 AD).Noting the period over which physical training (PT) has been a focus of military training, the question arises as to how much has changed

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Bond UniversityResearch RepositoryPhysical Training in the Military: A Telling HistoryOrr, Rob Marc; Schram, Ben; Canetti, Elisa; Pope, Rodney RPublished: 11/02/2020Document Version:Peer reviewed versionLink to publication in Bond University research repository.Recommended citation(APA):Orr, R. M., Schram, B., Canetti, E., & Pope, R. R. (2020). Physical Training in the Military: A Telling History.Poster session presented at 5th International Congress on Soldiers' Physical Performance, Quebec, Canada.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright ownersand it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.For more information, or if you believe that this document breaches copyright, please contact the Bond University research repositorycoordinator.Download date: 12 Apr 2020Physical Training in the Military: A Telling History Robin M Orra,b, Benjamin Schrama,b , Elisa Canettia,b , Rodney Popea,caTactical Research Unit, Bond University, Queensland, Australia; bFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University; cCharles Sturt University, New South Wales, AustraliaMethodsData were sourced from: • participating training establishments, • Australian Defence Force Physical Training Instructors (subject matter experts), • previously published reports, and • The Australian War Memorial Research CentreResults & Discussion• Many ‘types of training’ undertaken for military PT and still employed today can be found in manuals dating back to 1937. For example, the conduct of specific log exercises is shown in archival photographs spanning 67 years (Figure 1) while specific rope obstacle training was found in documents spanning 97 years. • Doctrine from 19372 highlights the importance of progressive training, the need for training to be consistent, to consist of six sessions per week of at least 60 minutes and instructs command staff not to replace PT with other activities. Furthermore, the doctrine states that physical fitness is the only framework upon which solider qualities can be built. • Information provided by Physical Training Instructors spanning nearly thirty years indicated there has been a reduction in distance runs and marches and an increase in strength-orientated training, with a shift to a fitness industry model in the early 90s and a sports model in recent years. • Considering this, review of a major training unit found a 33% decrease in the number of PT sessions from 63 (1987) to 40 (2018) in the 80-day training program with many sessions lasting only 40 minutes (Table 1). 3,4,5Conclusion• Over a span of around 100 years many training formats and exercises appear to have remained extant (e.g. obstacle courses, team-based training approaches, movement / functional focussed exercises, etc) although some changes to the non-combat orientated fitness methods (e.g. running and strength training) have occurring in more recent decades. • There is evidence that best-practice for physical conditioning of military personnel has been known and documented since the 1930s.IntroductionThe need to physically train soldiers for combat can be traced back to the tome Epitoma rei militaris, by Flavius Renatus (circa 500 AD).1Noting the period over which physical training (PT) has been a focus of military training, the question arises as to how much has changed. Contact: rorr@bond.edu.auOperational Relevance:Given that physical training has largely remained unchanged in nearly a century, and that best practice for military physical training was documented over 80 years ago, the main limitations to best practice for military physical training may be administration and logistic practices (ultimately leading to over training) as opposed to scientific knowledge of how best to train personnel.References:1. Renatus, F. V. (1996). Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science (N. P. Milner, Trans. 2nd ed.). Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.2. Commonwealth. (1937). Physical Training. Accessed: Australian War Memorial: His Majesty's Stationary Office.3. Pope RP, Herbert RD, Kirwan JD & Graham BJ (2000). A randomized trial of pre-exercise stretching for injury prevention.  Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 32(2): 271-2774. Orr, R, & Moorby, G (2006). The Physical Conditioning Optimisation Project - a Physical Conditioning Continuum Review of the Army Recruit Training Course. Department of Defence, Canberra5. Goodall R, Pope R, Coyle J & Neumayer, R (2013). Balance and agility training does not always decrease lower limb injury risks: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 20 (3), 271-281 PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate PT as it has been applied to the Australian military through history.Officer Cadets at ADFA, 2016 Photographer John Carroll  Source: Defence Media OnlineArmy Cadets at Training in a Gymnasium, First World War, 1914-1918HO24203 4 5

Physical Training in the Military: A Telling History

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Physical Training in the Military: A Telling History

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