Ambulatory physical activity during United States Army basic combat training

Area of Science:

• Military Science
• Sports Medicine
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Quantifying physical activity in military training is crucial for understanding physiological demands.
• Previous research has not comprehensively assessed locomotor activity throughout an entire Basic Combat Training (BCT) cycle.
• Understanding physical exertion during BCT can inform training protocols and injury prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the daily locomotor physical activity of trainees during a complete 9-week BCT cycle.
• To estimate the daily travel distances covered by trainees throughout BCT.
• To examine variations in physical activity levels among different BCT companies.

Main Methods:

• Electronic pedometers were utilized to record daily steps for 4 trainees in each of 10 BCT companies.
• Pedometer data were collected throughout the entire 9-week BCT period.
• Daily questionnaires confirmed pedometer wear and continuous participation in training activities.

Main Results:

• Trainees averaged 16,311 +/- 5,826 steps per day, covering an estimated 11.7 +/- 4.4 kilometers daily.
• Locomotor activity peaked during field training exercises, with trainees averaging 22,372 +/- 12,517 steps daily.
• Daily step counts varied between BCT companies, ranging from 14,720 +/- 6,649 to 18,729 +/- 6,328 steps.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of locomotor physical activity across a full BCT cycle.
• Basic Combat Training involves substantial daily physical exertion, particularly during field exercises.
• Significant variability in physical activity exists among different training companies.