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Physical Fitness Training
Introduction
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Muscular Endurance and Strength
Flexibility
Body Composition
Nutrition and Fitness
Circuit Training and Exercise Drills
Obstacle Courses and Additional Drills
Competitive Fitness Activities
Developing the Program
Physical Training During Initial Entry Training
Environmental Considerations
Injuries
Army Physical Fitness Test
Appendix A B C D E F G H

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Fitness Handbook
Physical Fitness - Principles
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Flexibility
Program Description
The Road to Fitness
Getting Stronger
Prepare for Airborne School
Prepare for NALC & Air Assault School
Resistance Exercises - Legs
Back
Chest
Abdominal
Arms
Shoulders
Flexibility Exercises
Agility Exercises

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Running Cadences
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STARTING POSITIONS
After the warm-up, bring the soldiers to a position of ATTENTION. The drills begin with the command GO. Other basic commands are FRONT, BACK, and STOP. (See Figure 7-5 for the positions and actions associated with these commands.)
• ATTENTION: The position of attention is described in FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies.
• GO This involves running in place at top speed on the balls of the feet. The soldier raises his knees high, pumps his arms, and bends forward slightly at the waist.
• FRONT The soldier lies prone with elbows bent and palms directly under the shoulders as in the down position of the push up. The legs are straight and together with the head toward the instructor.
• BACK: The soldier lies flat on his back with his arms extended along his sides and his palms facing down ward. His legs are straight and together; his feet face the instructor.
• STOP The soldier assumes the stance of a football lineman with feet spread and staggered. His left arm is across his left thigh; his right arm is straight. His knuckles are on the ground; his head is up, and his back is roughly parallel to the ground.
To assume the FRONT or BACK position from the standing GO or STOP positions, the soldier changes positions vigorously and rapidly. (See Figure 7-5.)
To change from the FRONT to the BACK position (Figure 7-5), the soldier does the following:
• Takes several short steps to the right or left.
• Lifts his arm on the side toward which his feet move.
• Thrusts his legs vigorously to the front.
To change from the BACK to the FRONT position, the soldier sits up quickly. He places both hands on the ground to the right or left of his legs. He takes several short steps to the rear on the side opposite his hands. When his feet are opposite his hands, he thrusts his legs vigorously to the rear and lowers his body to the ground. (See Figure 7-5.)
Figure 7-5

GRASS DRILL ONE
Exercises for grass drill one are described below and shown in Figure 7-6.

Bouncing Ball
From the FRONT position, push up and support the body on the hands (shoulder-width apart) and feet. Keep the back and legs generally in line and the knees straight. Bounce up and down in a series of short, simultaneous, upward springs from the hands, hips, and feet.

Supine Bicycle
From the BACK position, flex the hips and knees. Place the palms directly on top of the head, and interlace the fingers. Bring the knee of one leg upward toward the chest. At the same time, curl the trunk and head upward while touching the opposite elbow to the elevated knee. Repeat with the other leg and elbow. Continue these movements as opposite legs and arms take turns.

Knee Bender
From the position of ATTENTION, do half-knee bends with the feet in line and the hands at the sides. Make sure the knees do not bend to an angle less than 90 degrees.

Roll Left and Right
From the FRONT position, continue to roll in the direction commanded until another command is given. Then, return to the FRONT position.

GRASS DRILL TWO
Exercises for grass drill two are described below and shown in Figure 7-6.

The Swimmer
From the FRONT position, extend the arms forward. Move the right arm and left leg up and down; then, move the left arm and right leg up and down. Continue in an alternating manner.

Bounce and Clap Hands
The procedure is almost the same as for the bouncing ball in grass drill one. However, while in the air, clap the hands. This action requires a more vigorous bounce or spring. The pushup may be substituted for this exercise.

Leg Spreader
From the BACK position, raise the legs until the heels are no higher than six inches off the ground. Spread the legs apart as far as possible, then put them back together. Keep the head off the ground. Throughout, place the hands under the upper part of the buttocks, and slightly bend the knees to ease pressure on the lower back. Open and close the legs as fast as possible. The curl-up may be substituted for this exercise.

Forward Roll
From the STOP position, place both hands on the ground, tuck the head, and roll forward. Keep the head tucked while rolling.

Stationary Run
From the position of ATTENTION, start running in place at the GO command by lifting the left foot first. Follow the instructor as he counts two repetitions of cadence. For example, “One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four.” The instructor then gives informal commands such as the following: “Follow me,” “Run on the toes and balls of your feet,” “Speed it up,” “Increase to a sprint, raise your knees high, lean forward at your waist, and pump your arms vigorously,” and “Slow it down.” To halt the exercise, the instructor counts two repetitions of cadence as the left foot strikes the ground: “One, two, three, four, one, two, three, HALT.”
Figure 7-6

Guerilla Exercises
Guerrilla exercises, which can be used to improve agility, CR endurance, muscular endurance, and to some degree muscular strength, combine individual and partner exercises. These drills require soldiers to change their positions quickly and do various basic skills while moving forward. Figures 7-7 and 7-8 show these exercises.
The instructor decides the duration for each exercise by observing its effect on the soldiers. Depending on how vigorously it is done, each exercise should be continued for 20 to 40 seconds. The group moves in circle formation while doing the exercises. If the platoon exceeds 30 soldiers, concentric circles may be used. A warm-up activity should precede these exercises, and a cool-down should follow them. After the circle is formed, the instructor steps into the center and issues commands.
Figure 7-7

EXERCISE AND PROGRESSION
Soldiers progress by shortening the quick-time marching periods between exercises and by doing all exercises a second time. This produces an overload
that improves fitness.
Many soldiers have not had a chance to do the simple skills involved in guerrilla exercises. However, they can do these exercises easily and quickly in
almost any situation.
The preparatory command is always the name of the exercise, and the command of execution is always “March.” The command “Quick time, march” ends each exercise.
For the double guerrilla exercises (in circle formation) involving two soldiers, the commands for pairing are as follows:
• “Platoon halt.”
• “From (soldier is designated), by twos, count off.” (For example: 1- 2, 1-2, 1-2.)
• “Even numbers, move up behind odd numbers.” (Pairs are adjusted according to height and weight.)
• “You are now paired up for double guerrillas.” The command “Change” is given to change the soldiers’ positions.
After the exercises are completed, the instructor halts the soldiers and positions the base soldier or platoon guide by commanding, “Base man (or platoon guide), post.” He then commands “Fall out and fall in on the base man (or platoon guide).”

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS
Brief explanations of guerrilla exercises follow.

All-Fours Run
Face downward, supporting the body on the hands and feet. Advance forward as fast as possible by moving the arms and legs forward in a coordinated way.

Bottoms-Up Walk
Take the front-leaning rest position, and move the feet toward the hands in short steps while keeping the knees locked. When the feet are as close to the hands as possible, walk forward on the hands to the front-leaning-rest position.

Crab Walk
Assume a sitting position with the hips off the ground and hands and feet supporting the body’s weight. Walk forward, feet first.

The Engine
Stand with the arms straight and in front of the body. The arms should be parallel to the ground with the palms facing downward. While walking forward, bring the left knee upward to the left elbow. Return to the start position. Continuing to walk forward, touch the right knee to the right elbow. Recover to the start position. Be sure to keep the arms parallel to the ground throughout the entire exercise.

Double Time
Do a double-time run while maintaining the circle formation.

Broad Jump
Jump forward on both feet in a series of broad jumps. Swing the arms vigorously to help with the jumps.

Straddle Run
Run forward, leaping to the right with the left foot and to the left with the right foot.

Hobble Hopping
Hold one foot behind the back with the opposite hand and hop forward. On the command “Change,” grasp the opposite foot with the opposite hand and hop forward.

Two-Man Carry
For two-man carries, soldiers are designated as number one (odd-numbered) and number two (even-numbered). A number-one and number-two soldier work as partners.

Fireman's Carry
Two soldiers do the carry. On command, number-two soldier bends at the waist, with feet apart in a balanced stance. Number-one soldier moves toward his partner. He places himself by his partner’s left shoulder and bends himself over his partner’s shoulders and back. When in position, number-two soldier, with his left hand, reaches between his partner’s legs and grasps his left wrist. On command, they move forward until the command for changeover. They then change positions. The fireman’s carry can also be done from the other side.

Single-Shoulder Carry
Two soldiers do the carry. On command, number-two soldier bends at the waist with feet apart in a balanced stance. At the same time, number-one soldier moves toward his partner. He places his abdominal area onto his partner’s right or left shoulder and leans over. Number-two soldier puts his arms around the back of his partner’s knees and stands up. On command, they move forward until the command for changeover. They then change positions.

Cross Carry
On command, number-two soldier bends over at the waist. He twists slightly to the left with feet spread apart in a balanced position. At the same time, number-one soldier moves toward his partner’s left side and leans over his partner’s back. Number two soldier, with his left arm, reaches around his partner’s legs. At the same time, he reaches around his partner’s back with his right arm, being careful not to grab his partner’s neck or head. He then stands up straight, holding his partner on his back. On command, they move forward until the command for changeover. They then change positions.

Saddle-back (Piggyback) Carry
On command, number-two soldier bends at the waist and knees with his hand on his knees and his head up. To assume the piggyback position, number- one soldier moves behind his partner, places his hands on his partner’s shoulders, and climbs carefully onto his partner’s hips. As number-one soldier climbs on, number-two soldier grasps his partner’s legs to help support him. Number-one soldier places his arms over his partner’s shoulders and crosses his hands over his partner’s upper chest. They move forward until the command for changeover is given. They then change positions.
Figure 7-8

   

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