1. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 1 of 18 Develop a Physical Fitness Program “If we fail to prepare our soldiers for their physically demanding wartime tasks, we are guilty of paying lip service to the principle of “Train as you fight.” Our physical training programs must do more for our soldiers than just get them ready for the semiannual Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT’)”. FM 21-20

2. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 2 of 18 Army Fitness

3. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 3 of 18 Unit Fitness and Health Issues  Mitigating the stress of combat factors  Dental status as a deployment issue  Ensuring chaplains are available for a soldier’s spiritual health  Substance abuse within the unit  Healthy food and diet in the unit Dining Facility, and during deployments  Field sanitation

4. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 4 of 18 Critical to Mission Success  Manage both physical and mental stress in high risk situations  Embody the Warrior Ethos  Set the standard for your Soldiers  Is your our unit prepared to handle Extended periods of tiredness, hunger, and austere living conditions Adverse weather Effects of fear and other emotional stresses Wounds and injuries

5. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 5 of 18 The Leader’s Role  Sole responsibility for program  Continually assesses unit fitness  Correct weaknesses  Evaluates effectiveness of physical training  Ensures qualified leaders supervise and conduct fitness training

6. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 6 of 18 Principles of Exercise  Regularity; exercise often  Progression; gradually increase intensity and duration  Balance; address all the fitness components  Variety; increases motivation and progress  Specificity; geared toward specific goals  Recovery; help permit recovery  Overload; exceed normal demands on the body

7. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 7 of 18 FITT Factors  Frequency  Intensity  Time  Type

8. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 8 of 18 Fitness Components  Cardiorespiratory (CR) endurance  Muscular strength  Muscular endurance  Flexibility  Body composition

9. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 9 of 18 Applying FITT to Fitness component: Cardiorespiratory endurance (Aerobic Exercise)

10. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 10 of 18 Seven Steps to Developing a Unit Fitness Program  Step 1: Analyze The Mission  Step 2: Develop Fitness Objectives  Step 3: Assess The Unit  Step 4: Determine Training Requirements  Step 5: Develop Fitness Tasks  Step 6: Develop A Training Schedule  Step 7: Conduct And Evaluate Training

11. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 11 of 18 Step 1: Analyze The Mission  Consider Unit Type Mission Essential Task List (METL)  Goals should provide a common direction for all programs and systems

12. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 12 of 18 Step 2: Develop Fitness Objectives  Objectives direct unit’s efforts by prescribing specific actions  Examples of fitness objectives:  Improve the unit’s average APFT score through each soldier obtaining a minimum score of 80 points on the push-up and sit-up events and 70 points on the 2-mile run.

13. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 13 of 18 Step 3: Assess The Unit  Examples: Diagnostic APFT Soldiers road march a certain distance within a set time while carrying a specified load Any quantifiable, physically demanding, mission-essential task can be used as an assessment tool  Consider assessments monthly or quarterly

14. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 14 of 18 Step 4: Determine Training Requirements  Comparing soldier/unit capabilities to the standards defined in training objectives  Determine requirements to achieve those standards

15. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 15 of 18 Step 5: Develop Fitness Tasks  Fitness tasks establish priorities, frequencies, and sequence for training  Essential elements of fitness tasks can be cataloged into four groups: Collective tasks Individual tasks Leader tasks Resources required for training

16. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 16 of 18 Step 6: Develop A Training Schedule  From near-term planning  Shows order, intensity, and duration  Three distinct steps in planning daily physical training activities Determine the minimum frequency Determine the type of activity Determine the intensity and time of activity  Each activity period should include warm-up, workout (cardiorespiratory and/or muscular endurance and strength), and cool-down

17. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 17 of 18 Step 7: Conduct And Evaluate Training  Evaluations should address:  Assessment of proficiency in mission- essential tasks  Status of training goals and objectives  Status of training in critical individual and collective tasks  Shortfalls in training  Recommendations for next training cycle

18. MSL 401, Lesson 2b: Develop a Physical Fitness Program Rev. 15 Apr 2005Slide 18 of 18 Assignment: Develop a Unit Fitness Program  As a class,develop a Unit Fitness Program  Use current unit training information and your experience as a reference  Use FM 21-20; look at the sample program development on page 10-5  Use command guidance from the Professor of Military Science