Joining the Army offers a stable career and opportunities for advancement and further education. Before you can join the Army and see the world, however, it is important to consider the physical training standards required to join and stay in the Army. According to askthetrainer.com, your basic training drill sergeants will make it obvious from your first day of basic training that Army fitness is one of the top priorities in the military.
Significance
Your effectiveness in the field often depends on your level of fitness; sometimes, your life and the lives of those around you depend on your fitness level as well. Soldiers not only need a high level of cardiovascular endurance, but a high level of muscular endurance and strength. They need to be prepared for the physical rigors of combat, and also to deal with extreme weather conditions. They also must be prepared for physical activity while carrying heavy gear.
Features
The Army fitness programs emphasize cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance and flexibility. Each workout should consist of a warm-up, an activity and a cool-down. The warm-up consists of several stretches, including lunges and squats. A cardio workout will begin with a program that mixes walking and running, working towards an all-running program. Your recruiter will also guide you through strength training and flexibility exercises that train your arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen, back, hips and legs. This may include weight training, resistance training and isometric training. A cool-down includes many of the same stretches as your warm-up.
Non-traditional Workouts
It is not always possible for soldiers to do their workouts in a gym -- they must make do with whatever equipment is available. For that reason, most cardiovascular workouts involve running, rather than swimming or using other traditional gym equipment like an elliptical trainer. Instead of using a bench press in a gym, soldiers do push-ups, pike push-ups and pyramids to achieve the same results. While a weightlifter in a gym may use a squat rack, a solider will instead do squats with a buddy on his or her back. Examples of other non-traditional exercises include rope climbing and low crawling.
Time Frame
A physical fitness test is given to all new recruits to assess their current fitness level. You will then be expected to to spend at least 45 minutes a day, four to five days a week, in physical training. Additionally, all soldiers must take the physical fitness test at least twice per calendar year. Meeting the minimum standards is also necessary to be eligible for promotion, transfer or to attend Army schools. Those in the National Guard are required to take the test once a year.
Fitness Test
The Army's Basic Training Physical Fitness test is required to graduate from boot camp. The test includes push-ups, sit-ups and a 2-mile run, and requirements vary based on age. Men between 17 and 21 years of age must do 35 push-ups and 47 sit-ups in two minutes, and run two miles in 16 minutes, 36 seconds or faster. Women in the same age frame must do 13 push-ups, 47 sit-ups and run their two miles in 19 minutes, 42 seconds. Men who are 22 to 26 years old must do 31 push-ups, 43 sit-ups and run their two miles in 17 minutes, 30 seconds; women in that age range must do 11 push-ups, 43 sit-ups and run in 20 minutes, 36 seconds. According to Military.com, these are considered basic requirements, and meeting the minimum scores is considered a below-average performance.
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