The effectiveness of physical education of the Military Academy cadets during a 4-year study

The main role of physical education is health and educational practices of cadets and all-round personality development. Instruction executing is successful only when the set requirements are realized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical education in order to rise physical capabilities of the Military Academy cadets during a 4-year education.

The study was conducted in the Military Academy, Belgrade. A total of 120 cadets who at the beginning of the study were 19 years +/- 6 months and at the end 23 years +/- 6 months were included in this study. The study used the following tests for verification and assessment of physical fitness: pull-ups, lifting the trunk from the ground, standing long jump seats, running at 1,600 m and overcoming the infantry obstacles. The data were analyzed using statistical programs to calculate the central and dispersion parameters. The difference in the achieved results in the individual variables were evaluated by the univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), while the differences in the system variables by region were identified by the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis. The group membership was determined using profile analysis.

There were statistically significant differences in all the tests to evaluate the effectiveness of physical education during a 4-year study, except in the standing long jump test. The best average results in motor capabilities tests, were achieved after two years of study, while in the endurance tests showed the best results achieved at the end of a 4-years studying.

The results of overcoming specific tests for the physical abilities of the Military Academy cadets show that the physical education curriculum only slightly improves the development of physical skills of cadets during a 4-year study. The existing program shows the best results in the pull-ups test of the ground troops, and the worst in the multiple motor control tests (endurance, strength and speed).