For well over a decade I've been writing, speaking, and pushing ultra-endurance limits to promote youth health and fitness. Unfortunately, during that time I've seen a continual decline in America's fitness. Some have said that the lack of fitness in America's youth is a "looming national security crisis."
Army officials say that soldier fitness is of growing importance. It has been reported by officials that more than 100,000 soldiers are unable to deploy. For a large percentage of those soldiers, it's due to injuries sustained during training. Apparently, those soldiers are becoming harder to replace. An improving unemployment rate has caused fewer potential armed forces recruits.
A recent Heritage Foundation report found that, according to 2017 Pentagon data, "71 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are ineligible to serve in the United States military." Nearly one-third of those young Americans are too overweight for military service. Put another way, over 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group cannot join the armed forces -- even if they wanted to.
The Heritage Foundation report outlines the stakes of having a population largely unfit to serve. "The U.S. military is already having a hard time attracting enough qualified volunteers. Of the four services, the Army has the greatest annual need. The Army anticipates problems with meeting its 2018 goal to enlist 80,000 qualified volunteers, even with increased bonuses and incentives," according to the report.
Historically, the Army's physical tests have been challenging -- but they're about to become more challenging. The "Soldier Readiness Test" is a new commander's tool being developed to assess a unit's physical fitness program. The Soldier Readiness Test must be completed by soldiers while wearing their Army Combat Uniform, boots and fully body armor. The events include a 225-pound tire flip, an agility test, a 240-pound dummy drag, a sandbag toss over a 7-foot barrier, a sandbag stack and a one-and-a-half mile run.
Also in development is the Army Combat Readiness Test. The new, six-event test is designed to gauge five components of physical fitness, including muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strength, speed and explosive power. It consists of a deadlift, standing power throw, modified pushups, a sprint/drag/carry lane that simulates moving a wounded soldier or ammunition in combat, leg lifts and a two-mile run.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
