Physical Education Department, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Mil Med. 2021 Aug 28;186(9-10):242-247. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usab043.
Decreased physical fitness in military recruiting populations is problematic for the development of physical military readiness (PMR) and presents a threat to national security. The demonstration of low levels of fitness may be an indicator of a more foundational problem in the physical development of military recruits. We propose the development of functional motor competence (FMC) across childhood and adolescence as a necessary antecedent to advanced PMR training and military-specific tasks (i.e., rucking and obstacle course navigation) and as an integral part of sustained PMR. The development of FMC supports increases in cardiovascular and muscular endurance through repeated efforts performed during practice and in sport, as well as muscular power as many FMC movements mimic plyometrics in a strength in conditioning sense. We posit that an inadequate foundation in FMC will serve as a barrier to achieving sufficient PMR and combat success of the fighting force. We propose three possible solutions to ensure sufficient PMR levels through the implementation of developmentally appropriate FMC-based training. First would be promoting FMC-based training in junior reserve officer training corp and ROTC programs. Second would be a more global approach, on the scale of the National Defense Education Act, specifically focusing on promoting quality daily physical education that could reach millions of children. Third, individual branches could begin promoting the tenets of foundational FMC training concepts in their physical training manuals, which ideally would address FMC before and throughout basic training, as well as subsequent active duty training.
军事招募人群体能下降对身体战备能力（PMR）的发展构成问题，并对国家安全构成威胁。体能水平低可能表明军事新兵身体发展存在更基础的问题。我们提出在儿童和青少年时期发展功能性运动能力（FMC），作为高级 PMR 训练和军事特定任务（例如背负和障碍路线导航）的必要前提，也是持续 PMR 的重要组成部分。FMC 的发展通过在练习和运动中重复进行的努力，以及肌肉力量（因为许多 FMC 运动在力量调节意义上模仿了增强式训练）来提高心血管和肌肉耐力以及肌肉力量。我们假设，FMC 基础不足将成为实现足够 PMR 和战斗部队战斗力的障碍。我们提出了三种可能的解决方案，通过实施适合发展的基于 FMC 的训练来确保足够的 PMR 水平。首先是在预备役军官训练团和 ROTC 计划中推广基于 FMC 的训练。其次是更具全球性的方法，规模与《国防教育法》相当，特别注重推广高质量的日常体育课，以惠及数百万儿童。第三，各分支机构可以开始在其体能训练手册中推广基础 FMC 训练概念的原则，这些原则理想情况下应在基础训练之前和期间以及随后的现役训练中解决 FMC 问题。
