The South African Defence Force physical training programme. Part II. Effect of 1 year's military training on muscular strength, power, power-endurance, speed and flexibility.

The effect of the South African Defence Force (SADF) military training on recruits' muscular strength, power, power-endurance, speed and flexibility was investigated. In the entire study group, a significant enhancement by basic training was observed for the isokinetic muscular strength of the right elbow extensors alone (17% increase; P less than 0,05). Stratification of training responses on the basis of initial fitness levels revealed significant improvements with basic training for all measures of muscular strength, power, power-endurance and speed, but not flexibility, in the below-average fitness recruit. For all variables the training effect was transient and values documented on completion of 1 year's military training differed insignificantly from those recorded before conscription. In contrast, with the exception of elbow extensor muscular strength, fitness levels of the average and above-average recruits were not increased by basic training. While further research to assess physical requirements of various military work and emergency situations is needed to evaluate the desirability of this observed selective enhancement of recruit fitness levels during basic training, it is evident that greater emphasis should be placed on flexibility training, and physical conditioning after basic training.