3 October 2006

The Regional Physical Training Association and staff of the Eru Brown Gymnasium adopted a “Fit to Fight, Fit for Life” approach while formulating a physical training regime for recruits attending the new 22-week Enhanced Recruit Training Course, at the Army Depot, Waiouru.

Those who have completed initial basic training often reflect on it with two emotions: great physical stress and demand, and enjoyment. This is still true; whatever anyone says, it has not got easier – its structure has just developed.

After gaining advice from other defence forces from around the world, the enhanced basic training has been brought into the 21st century.

The PT regime

A recruit can expect basic training that is progressive and demanding, in relation to all aspects of their training. Just as an athlete prepares for athletic meetings with a variety of structured activities, the PT aspect of recruit training delivers variety and progressive learning. (See table)

Week	Activity / Skill	Lecture / PTI additional programming
1 - 3	Fitness assessment Swim assessment Intro runs Intro buddy carry and pull-ups	Week 2 lecture: Why be fit Intro Barracks Training - pull-ups, press-ups and abdominal training
4 - 6	Intro ropes Intro circuit training Continue with activities from weeks 1- 3	Continue with Barracks programme
7 - 11	Intro BPT Fitness Assessment Wk 9 RFL Assessment Wk10 Intro Assault Course Continue with activities from previous weeks	Week 7: Barracks programme update Week 10: Barracks programme update
12	Mid-course leave
13	Intro, close-quarter battle Continue with activities from previous weeks Intro Battle PT	Weeks 13 - 22: lecture: Army sport Barracks programme update
14 - 21	Intro, Battle Efficiency Test Continue with activities from previous weeks	Week 19: Barracks programme update
22	Retests Intro to alternate PT training conducted for trained soldiers	Final visit, overview

Aim of the regime

The aim of physical training is to discipline progress and educate the recruit into being able to work hard and stretch their physical boundaries, to become an integral part of the military team. With this in mind, a positive approach toward all facets of a soldier’s life is also promoted – health and fitness, and the importance of maintaining a positive and active living.

It all starts with an assessment of the individual’s level of fitness: a fitness and swim assessment, followed by cardiovascular overload, local muscular endurance, strength training and stretching. These activities are aimed at giving the individual an education in how exercises should be done properly. This is enhanced by a PTI lecture on “why be fit?” which highlights the benefits of physical training in relation to personal responsibility, motivation, operational capability and personal lifestyle. Throughout their time in the gym they are encouraged to develop self-awareness and gym discipline, and grow their ability to react to words of command and understand basic exercises.

As the recruits build on teamwork and their own individual strength and fitness, they are introduced to ropes, fireman’s carries, pull-ups, and barrack PT workouts. These programmes, developed by the gym staff, are designed to be done in the barracks in their own time. Further personal programmes are utilised as training progresses, including weight training, swimming and running. All of these provide the individual with a solid grounding in following an exercise programme.

After mid-course leave the recruits are introduced to a more military/operational style of PT. CQB (close quarter battle), assault course training and battle PT activities culminate with the BET (battle efficiency test). The main aim in this section of their physical training is to improve both mental and physical toughness. This portion of the programme maintains a steady and progressive tempo, similar to the initial 12 weeks of the course.

To complete the course, recruits are introduced to alternate PT training, similar to that conducted for trained soldiers. This, combined with lectures on sport in the Army environment and a closing visit from the PTIs, rounds off the course. It aims to give the recruit a sense of achievement at what they have done, and a positive look to the future.

Throughout the course, recruits are encouraged to complete the PT training. Even with minor injuries, they will attend PT where they will be supervised by a qualified rehabilitation PTI to ensure a “fitter-quicker” approach.

To progress through training, the recruit is required to pass all physical training terminals RFL/BET, and it’s an advantage if the recruit is assessed as competent on the swim assessment.

Testing standards to be achieved by all personnel under training
Required Fitness Level (RFL)
Male (G1 standards)
10-minute run – 30 press-ups – 66 curl-ups
Female (G1 standards)
11:50 run – 15 press ups – 55 Curl up’s
Battle Efficiency Test (BET)

The group completes a forced march over slightly undulating ground. The walk is 12km, and needs to be completed in a time of 9-11 minutes per km (maximum). Each recruit carries a combined pack, webbing and weapon weight of 25kg. This is followed with a 5m rope climb, up and over a 6ft wall, crossing of a 9ft ditch and finishes with a 200m fireman’s carry. All aspects of the BET must be completed and passed for the recruit to gain an overall pass in this discipline.

Swim Assessment (DPMs)

One of the many “life skills” which are assessed during training is conducted in DPMs and without boots. The recruits are told to enter the water and complete two minutes of treading water, then pair up and complete a 30m contact tow. This tow is a straight-arm tow, assuming the casualty has injuries to the lower limb.

With little time to rest, it is straight into two complete lengths (66m) of the pool. Once completed, the final part of the test is a 10m swim underwater. At no point during the swim is any part of the individual or their uniform allowed to break the surface of the water. After the tasks have been completed the recruit must climb out of the pool without assistance from the steps or a colleague.

The recruits are classified into three groups: “competent” swimmers, “not competent” in two to three disciplines, and “not competent” in all disciplines.

Much thought and effort has been invested into the Enhanced Basic regime; however, the true results will only be noticeable once recruit personnel have been totally immersed into the military environment.

Indications so far are that the training programme is functional, well structured and set at the correct levels for initial entry into today’s Army. Training for warfare is as old as time, and with this modern view on a traditional subject we can provide soldiers with attributes that cement the “fit to fight, fit for life” approach.

Fuelling Body and Mind

Being “fit to fight” means being fit inside and out. Aiming to make soldiers fitter, faster and stronger, ATG Waiouru has made sweeping changes to the way they “fuel” their recruits. Healthier food options, sports drinks, three snacks a day, and a comprehensive nutrition education programme have been introduced into basic training.

Developed by the Army’s dietician, Captain Nicola Martin, the changes are the first step towards using enhanced nutrition and hydration strategies to improve the health and well-being of all personnel in the Army, and ultimately increase the Army’s operational readiness.

CAPT Martin explains that by targeting recruits, she hopes to instil healthy eating habits at the “grass-roots level”.

“Many of them have come straight from home and have never had to think about what they eat or make their own choices daily before, and possibly many of them have never had any nutrition education. What they learn about nutrition while they are recruits they will take away for the rest of their time in the military, and hopefully the rest of their life.”

Commanding Officer of TAD, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Reynolds, says the change springs from a philosophy to make recruits “fit to fight and fit for life”. “By focusing on the recruit when he or she marches into the Army, we have a far greater chance of success than trying to change people who are already indoctrinated into three big fat heavy meals a day – trying to change 24-year-old or 34-year-old minds is a lot more difficult than changing a 17- or a 18-year-old mind.

 “When they make a change in their uniform, they also make a change in their lifestyle.”

LT COL Reynolds says the increasing number of overweight and obese people in New Zealand has had a flow-on effect on the military. But they hope their nutrition education programme will curb this trend.

One of the five nutrition sessions is entitled “Nutrition in the Big Wide World”. It ensures that when recruits leave the controlled environment of basic training they are still able to make good decisions about what they choose to eat and drink.

The other sessions are: “Baseline Nutrition”, which will teach the principles of healthy eating and hydration, and their impact on health and performance; “Navigating the Mess”, a practical session on what foods to choose in the mess; “Nutrition and Hydration in Physical Training”; and “Nutrition and Hydration in the Field”, where they learn how to get maximum nutritional benefit from their ration packs.

“We teach them that it’s not just food; it’s fuel. We teach them how they can get the most out of it – how they can use food as a tool to help them stay alert, maintain their performance, and maintain their weight.”

CAPT Martin has also introduced a revised menu. Foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar have been restricted, and the range of healthier options has been extended.

“We’re trying to create an overall healthier environment for them in the mess, so they won’t be eating fish and chips, and deep-fried schnitzel, with everything covered in butter, gravy and sauces. We’re not cutting out these foods altogether; we’re just limiting the frequency with which they’re offered and making the healthier choices the majority.”

For example, where once the ATG mess was more likely to offer two high-fat sweet options at lunch, such as chocolate-caramel slice and a cream bun, there is now a healthier sweet option, such as a fruit muffin.
 
Recruits will be given a sports drink after PT, and three snacks a day: mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at supper. These snacks, such as muesli bars and fruit, will be high in carbohydrate, with moderate protein and fat.

“The idea is to provide them with extra food to fuel the activities they’re doing, provide fuel for recovery and to improve their alertness and concentration. They’re a really physically active group, and are on the go from 6am until 10pm, so it’s important they get the right fuel at the right time.”

CAPT Martin says the ultimate goal is to increase the operational readiness of our troops. “The role that nutrition plays in enhancing performance is not a new concept, principles are in place with elite athletes and other militaries around the world; we are just taking those strategies onboard and implementing them. In order for us to be a world-class army, it’s just another strategy we need to implement.”

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