After joining the Army you have to meet certain physical requirements. The ability to endure prolonged physical exertion is essential to Army duty. To make sure you are up to the task, the Army provides proper nutrition, guidance and strength training. Army strength training improves strength and endurance by using a standardized program of calisthenics and resistance training.
Calisthenics Benefits
According to ArmyStudyGuide.com, calisthenics are an important part of the Army's fitness program for muscular strength. In addition to developing and maintaining muscular strength, the benefits of calisthenics include an increase in bone mass and the strength of connective tissue. This is important to improve injury control when starting an exercise program. Conditioning programs that you perform in calisthenics consist of 10 exercises to strengthen the major muscles of the body. The goal of calisthenics is to develop total body strength in short time. You perform these daily.
Calisthenics Exercises
Calisthenics exercises consist of activities such as push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and jogging. This type of exercise needs no equipment. According to ArmySGuide.com, the calisthenics program consists of two conditioning drills.
The first drill is a variety of calisthenics that improves motor skills and challenges strength while building endurance and flexibility. In drill one, you perform the exercises in sequence and use them in the warm-up and cool-down phases. They include the bend and reach, rear lunge, high jumper, rower, squat bender, windmill, forward lunge, prone row, bent-leg body twist and push-up.
The second drill is designed to improve upper body strength and endurance. Exercises in the second drill consist of push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups, in that order.
Resistance Training Benefits
Resistance training builds muscular strength and endurance. Resistance is provided by weights or weight machines. According to Military.com, circuit training is an effective way to get the benefits of weights along with cardiovascular improvements. The object of this workout is to perform weight or circuit exercises without rest in between exercises
Circuit Exercise Program
According to Military.com, there is an unlimited number of ways to arrange a circuit workout. The most common workout is organized with upper body and lower body worked in sequence. The circuit consists of 10 stations. The idea is to perform the exercise stations within a set period of time, usually one minute a station, and move to the next with a few seconds of rest between each station, raising your heart rate and keeping it elevated for maximum benefit.
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