Are you fit to fight in World War II?

I read an interesting research article the other day that I thought would be fun to share with you all.

I copied the intro from the journal to give you some background:

“The ’1946 United States Army Physical Training FM 21- 20′ is a lessons learned spike on the doctrine radar with much to offer the future of warrior-based Physical Readiness Training (PRT). World War II combat soldiers faced extraordinary physical, mental and emotional challenges, and the 1946 FM 21-20 was a bold attempt to raise the peacetime PRT bar.

In the early 1990s, hundreds of Fort Benning’s best and brightest began to study past PRT doctrines as part of an off-duty undergraduate Fitness Leadership Degree Program. To test themselves against the World War II standard, some soldiers began administering the WWII physical fitness test to units across the installation. The results were sobering. Scores were consistently low for units that held the standard, and the revealed deficiencies led commanders to look carefully at the World War II PRT doctrine. Units that modified their physical training to align with the World War II doctrine consistently improved their scores on both the 1946 and current Army physical fitness test.”

I thought it would be a fun addition to Forrest’s post about challenging ourselves. If we all took a crack at this test I think the results might surprise a lot of you!

Two batteries of test events are listed below. The first battery is recommended when the test can be administered on a dry, level field which is of sufficient size to conduct the 300-yard run. The second battery, which is used when testing cannot be done outdoors, is identical to the first except for the last event and its alternate which are indicated below as 5A and 5A(1).

TEST 1: PULL-UPS

This event requires a horizontal bar made of a pipe, gymnasium horizontal bar or other rigid horizontal support 11/2 inches in diameter. The bar should be high enough to permit the performer to hang at full length without touching the ground.

TEST 2: SQUAT JUMPS

A performer begins by squatting completely on their right heel with their fingers laced on top of their head, with their palms down. A performer’s feet are set four to six inches apart with the heel of the left foot on a line with the toes of the right foot.

TEST 3: PUSH-UPS

A performer will assume the front leaning rest position with the body straight from head to heels. A performer’s palms should be directly underneath the shoulders and elbows are straight with their fingers pointed forward. The judge will sit on the ground beside the performer, with one palm down on the ground underneath the lowest part of the performer’s chest.

TEST 4: SIT-UPS

A performer will begin by lying on their back with their knees straight, feet approximately 18 inches apart and fingers laced behind their head and elbows on the ground. The scorer will kneel on the ground at the performer’s feet and press the performer’s ankles firmly down against the ground. A performer will be given credit for each sit-up completed within the 2-minute period. No score will be given if a performer unclasps their hands from their head, if they push up from their elbows, or if they keep their knees bent while lying back on the ground. A performer will not be penalized if their elbow misses the knee slightly. A performer must, however, sit up far enough so that their elbow almost touches their knee. Time should be announced every 20 seconds.

TEST 5: 300-YARD RUN

A course 60 yards long will be laid out on flat, level ground with lanes 4-feet wide for each runner. Both ends of the course should have cross-marks at right angles to the lanes. A crossmark at one end serves as a starting line and the one at the other end serves as a finish line. In the middle of the cross-mark at either end of each lane will be a stake which is at least 11/2 feet high. If possible, the lanes should be marked out in lime color. If there are no lanes, it is recommended that the stakes be numbered or painted different colors. Each performer must run around their stake without grasping it for a total of 5 rounds. The “60-Second Squat Thrust” is performed only when the 300 yard run cannot be done.

To view the standards Click Here!

Workout of the Day 9/10/2010

A. Power Clean 5-5-5

B. 4 Rounds
12 Burpees
100M Run
9 Overhead Squats (95/65)
100M Run
6 Handstand Push-ups
100M Run