Physical Fitness Standards

Although nearly all civilians are familiar with the rigorous demands of boot camp training for the different branches of the United States Military, most of us are less aware of the ongoing physical training that troops enduring as part of the military’s physical fitness program. It is not enough for a soldier to simply complete boot camp in top physical shape; a soldier must ensure that he or she remains ready for combat years or even decades down the line.

With this concern in mind, every branch of the United States Military has programs in place that keep soldiers from falling out of shape during assignments that are not physically demanding. Here is a short look at the individual physical fitness programs used by the different branches of the military.

United States Army Physical Fitness Program

Soldiers are required to regularly pass the Physical Fitness Test and maintain a healthy weight once they have successfully passed boot camp. Without keeping their weight in check and passing this test, they are not eligible for promotion, so most soldiers do whatever it takes to stay in shape throughout the year. For a man who is from 22-26 years of age, the minimum requirements for duty are being able to complete a 2-mile run in less than 16:36, 50 sit-ups in two minutes and at least 40 sit-ups.

Some popular exercises for meeting the guidelines of the Army physical fitness program include pull-ups, flexed arm hangs, push-ups, sit-ups and, of course, plenty of running. If you are considering applying for Special Forces, be sure to train regularly for ruck marshes with serious leg muscle training such as extended bike workouts, squats, lunges and heel raises.

United States Navy Physical Fitness Program

After completing basic training, both active duty and reservist sailors must remain active in the Navy’s physical fitness program and pass their Physical Readiness Test, also known as PRT. All sailors must successfully pass this test twice a year. However, the standards are a little less demanding on these soldiers than the requirements for new recruits. Rather than physical weight, sailors are required to maintain a healthy overall body composition that is usually tested by simply measuring a sailor’s waistline.

As a result, a big part of the Navy’s physical fitness program is concentrated on toning the abdominal muscles. This is also useful for the swimming portion of the PRT, which requires sailors to complete a 500 yard swim in a specified amount of time. Running and general fitness are also part of the program, but the requirements are slightly less demanding than those of the Army.

United States Air Force Physical Fitness Program

The Air Force has a similar test to the Army and Navy that troops much regularly meet, but most soldiers are largely left to their own devices in order to pass the requirements of the test. The requirements of the program are based around aerobic and muscle fitness, as well as body composition. Many members of the Air Force choose to participate in an informal eight week training program that has specific daily training for running, push-ups and sit-ups.

So long as soldiers train adequately for regular Air Force tests on their own, the vast majority of soldiers are able to pass the performance tests without any problems.

United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Program

As you might expect, the physical fitness program for United States Marines is considerably more demanding than the standard Army, Navy and Air Force programs. The Semper Fidelis Society recommends following a specific ongoing program regardless of a Marines current assignment.

This program includes the Armstrong pull-up program, regular crunches and running training. The Armstrong pull-up program sets a five day schedule of pull-ups and push-ups that is designed to keep the upper body permanently fit. Regular crunches should be broken down into speed sets, endurance sets and incline sets for maximum impact. In order to continue to develop as a competitive runner, it is necessary for a Marine to follow an intelligent program that breaks up the week with long runs, days off and hill runs.