Army exercise plans and physical fitness programs are designed to help soldiers meet military fitness goals and requirements. Each branch of the military tests several components of physical fitness, including muscle strength, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory endurance. In the Army, this test is known as the APFT or Army Physical Fitness Test. The APFT helps identify whether soldiers in the active Army, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve are physically fit for combat.
Field Manual 21-20
Field Manual 21-20 is an Army document detailing physical fitness training. It is derived from Field Manual 25-100, "Training the Force." Though the ultimate goal of training under FM 21-20 guidelines is combat readiness, it provides additional benefits to soldiers. A rigorous physical fitness program reduces soldier sick time, enhances productivity and increases mental alertness, according to the Department of the Army.
Basic Training
Physical training or PT is a major component of basic training, the period of enlistment often called boot camp. A typical PT workout consists of upper- or lower-body workouts on alternating days, with each day's workout followed by a run of two miles or more. Workout intensity increases throughout the duration of basic training, so Week 2 workouts are more demanding than those in Week 1. A road march replaces the regular PT workout about once a week. A road march consists of a long-distance, fast-paced march in full gear.
APFT Standards
The Army Physical Fitness Test consists of three components: sit-ups, push-ups and a two-mile run. Acceptable scores are based on gender and age. A score of 60 percent on each test is the minimum requirement for all soldiers, but many companies require scores of 70 percent or higher. For example, to achieve the maximum or 100 percent on the push-up test, a 25-year-old male would have to perform 75 push-ups. To meet a 60 percent minimum, 40 push-ups are required. For a 65-year-old female, the maximum is 25 push-ups with a minimum of seven. A soldier who fails any event must retake the entire APFT within three months.
Purpose
The military maintains standards of physical fitness for combat readiness. Many American Army troops sent to fight in the Korean War in 1950 were not physically or mentally prepared for combat. Enemy combatants, the North Korean People's Army, were well-prepared for battle. The U.S. military attributes the failure of the Korean campaign in part to this discrepancy. As a result, FM 21-20 was designed and the APFT Standards were enacted to help ensure that U.S. soldiers would always be prepared for combat.
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