The Importance Of Physical Training In The Military

In order for an ODA to both reach and maintain the high level of physical readiness required by today’s combat environments, a comprehensive and holistic approach to fitness, vice the long established Army fitness program is necessary. Because the Army Physical Fitness Training program, as outlined by FM 21-20, is what most current Team Sergeants grew up in the military with, there is a tendency to default to that program when planning for Detachment physical training. While the Army program certainly offers rigorous training, it is focused on an Army with different physical demands than SOF and in which the average enlistment age is 21 and the average overall age is 27 ; the average age of an SF operator is 32. This contrast brings with it a myriad of issues that require attention be paid to common sports related injury prevention as part of the training program. Additionally, injuries that are not prevented must be treated in a comprehensive way that is designed to return the operator to that high
The most notable of these differences is that successful physical readiness training under the Army physical fitness training system is not based on progress in a program tailored to the requirements of upcoming missions and overseen by professional coaches. It is this focus (on individuals and mission-tailored fitness programs) and the professional coaches who administer the program that distinguish THOR3 most profoundly from the Army’s