In this monograph, Dr. Whitfield "Chip" East provides a pragmatic history of physical readiness training in our Army. He tells us we initially mirrored the professional Armies of Europe as they prepared their forces for war on the continent. Then he introduces us to some master trainers, and shows us how they initiated an American brand of physical conditioning when our forces were found lacking in the early wars of the last century. Finally, he shows us how we have and must incorporate science (even when there exists considerable debate!) to contribute to what we do-and how we do it-in shaping today's Army. Dr. East provides the history, the analysis, and the pragmatism, and all of it is geared to understanding how our Army has and must train Soldiers for the physical demands of combat.

"The Drillmaster of Valley Forge-Baron Von Steuben-correctly noted in his "Blue Book" how physical conditioning and health (which he found woefully missing when he joined Washington's camp) would always be directly linked to individual and unit discipline, courage in the fight, and victory on the battlefield. That remains true today. Even an amateur historian, choosing any study on the performance of units in combat, quickly discovers how the levels of conditioning and physical performance of Soldiers is directly proportional to success or failure in the field. In this monograph, Dr. Whitfield "Chip" East provides a pragmatic history of physical readiness training in our Army. He tells us we initially mirrored the professional Armies of Europe as they prepared their forces for war on the continent. Then he introduces us to some master trainers, and shows us how they initiated an American brand of physical conditioning when our forces were found lacking in the early wars of the last century. Finally, he shows us how we have and must incorporate science (even when there exists considerable debate!) to contribute to what we do-and how we do it-in shaping today's Army. Dr. East provides the history, the analysis, and the pragmatism, and all of it is geared to understanding how our Army has and must train Soldiers for the physical demands of combat. Our culture is becoming increasingly ''unfit," due to poor nutrition, a lack of adequate and formal exercise, and too much technology. Still, the Soldiers who come to our Army from our society will be asked to fight in increasingly complex and demanding conflicts, and they must be prepared through new, unique, and scientifically based techniques. So while Dr. East's monograph is a fascinating history, it is also a required call for all leaders to better understand the science and the art of physical preparation for the battlefield. It was and is important for us to get this area of training right, because getting it right means a better chance for success in combat.

"The purpose of this publication is to review and analyze the history of physical readiness training and assessment in the United States Army. Although the evolution of US Army physical readiness training (PRT) doctrine begins during the pre-Colonial period in America, in order to fully understand this evolutionary process, we must first understand the development of military physical training in Europe and its role in shaping the philosophy and doctrine of US Army PRT. After a short review of the role of physical training in antiquity, we will review in depth the growth of military "gymnastics" in Europe, especially Prussia, during the 19th century and the pathways of this doctrine and training to the United States and the US Army. A full understanding of the foundations of European military gymnastics is crucial to understanding the evolution of PRT in the US Army since European military gymnastics served as the touchstone for US Army PRT for over 200 years. We will then explore the extrinsic and intrinsic forces that have shaped US Army PRT doctrine since 1700 with particular attention to the influences of a changing economic, social, and political milieu and evolution of warfighter tactics and technology. Lastly, we will explore the transformation of US Army physical readiness training and assessment in the 21st Century with the advent of the Holistic Health and Fitness system and the Army Combat Fitness Test"--

Guides leaders through a systematic approach to training, consisting of an ordered, comprehensive assemblage of facts, principles and methods for training soldiers and units. Provides a balanced training program that prepares soldiers for successful task performance and provides linkage to other training. Injury control is woven into the training's fabric by recommended exercise intensity, volume, specificity and recovery within its progressive training schedules. Sample schedules provide the commander a doctrinal template that can be applied to the unit's training needs. Append.: Physical Fitness Test; Climbing Bars; Posture and Body Mechanics; Environ. Considerations; Obstacle Negotiations. Numerous photos. This is a print on demand pub.

Physical training in the US Army has a surprisingly short history. Bodies for Battle by Garrett Gatzemeyer is the first in-depth analysis of the US Army’s particular set of practices and values, known as its physical culture, that emerged in the late nineteenth century in response to tactical challenges and widespread anxieties over diminishing masculinity. The US Army’s physical culture assumed a unity of mind and body; learning a physical act was not just physical but also mental and social. Physical training and exercise could therefore develop the whole individual, even societies. Bodies for Battle is a study of how the US Army developed modern, scientific training methods in response to concerns about entering a competitive imperial world where embodied nations battled for survival in a Social Darwinist framework. This book connects social and cultural worries about American masculinity and manliness with military developments (strategic, tactical, technological) in the early twentieth century, and it links trends in the United States and the US Army with larger trans-Atlantic trends. Bodies for Battle presents new perspectives on US civil-military relations, army officers’ unease with citizen armies, and the implications of compulsory military service. Gatzemeyer offers a deeply informed historical understanding of physical training practices in the US Army, the reasons why soldiers exercise the way they do, and the influence of physical culture’s evolution on present-day reform efforts. Between the 1880s and the 1950s, the Army’s set of practices and values matured through interactions between combat experience, developments in the field of physical education, institutional outsiders, application beyond the military, and popular culture. A persistent tension between discipline and group averages on one hand and maximizing the individual warrior’s abilities on the other manifested early and continues to this day. Bodies for Battle also builds on earlier studies on sport in the US military by highlighting historical divergences between athletics and disciplinary and combat readiness impulses. Additionally, Bodies for Battle analyzes applications of the Army’s physical culture to wider society in an effort to “prehabilitate” citizens for service.

(Includes Change No. 1) Soldier physical readiness is acquired through the challenge of a precise, progressive, and integrated physical training program. A well-conceived plan of military physical readiness training must be an integral part of every unit training program. This field manual prescribes doctrine for the execution of the Army Physical Readiness Training System. The Army assesses, plans, prepares, and executes training and leader development through training based on tasks, conditions, and standards. Knowing the task, assessing the level of proficiency against the standard and developing a sustained or improved training plan is the essence of all Army training. Army training overall prepares Soldiers, leaders, and units to fight in the full spectrum of operations. Combat readiness is the Army's primary focus as it transitions to a more agile, versatile, lethal, and survivable force. Physical readiness training prepares Soldiers and units for the physical challenges of fulfilling the mission in the face of a wide range of threats, in complex operational environments, and with emerging technologies. This field manual-"Army Physical Readiness Training" -Provides Soldiers and leaders with the doctrine of Army physical readiness training, Reflects lessons learned in battles past and present, time-tested theories, and principles and emerging trends in physical culture, Helps ensure the continuity of our nation's strength and security, Prepares Soldiers physically for full spectrum operations, Explains training requirements and objectives, Provides instructions, required resources, and reasons why physical fitness is a directed mandatory training requirement as specified in AR 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, Allows leaders to adapt physical readiness training to unit missions and individual capabilities, Guides leaders in the progressive conditioning of Soldier strength, endurance, and mobility, Provides a variety of physical readiness training activities that enhance military skills needed for effective combat and duty performance.

Physical readiness training prepares Soldiers and units for the physical challenges of fulfilling the mission in theface of a wide range of threats, in complex operational environments, and with emerging technologies. Part I, Philosophy, covers approach, system, and leadership. Part II, Strategy, covers types of programs, planning considerations, and special conditioningprograms. Part III, Activities, covers execution of training, preparation and recovery, strength and mobility, andendurance and mobility. Appendix A is the Army Physical Fitness Test. Appendix B discusses climbing bars. Appendix C discusses posture and body mechanics. Appendix D discusses environmental considerations. Appendix E discusses obstacle negotiation.This field manual-- Provides Soldiers and leaders with the doctrine of Army physical readiness training. Reflects lessons learned in battles past and present, time-tested theories, and principles and emergingtrends in physical culture. Helps ensure the continuity of our nation's strength and security. Prepares Soldiers physically for full spectrum operations. Explains training requirements and objectives. Provides instructions, required resources, and reasons why physical fitness is a directed mandatorytraining requirement as specified in AR 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development. Allows leaders to adapt physical readiness training to unit missions and individual capabilities. Guides leaders in the progressive conditioning of Soldier strength, endurance, and mobility. Provides a variety of physical readiness training activities that enhance military skills needed foreffective combat and duty performance.