Physical Fitness and the 75th Ranger Regiment: The Components of Physical Fitness and the Ranger Mission

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This study attempts to determine how much each of the components of fitness; aerobic endurance, anaerobic and muscular endurance, strength, speed, coordination and flexibility are involved in the physically demanding tasks that a Ranger will most likely perform in combat. The extent to which each of the components of physical fitness are involved overall in the Ranger mission should be reflected in the type of physical training that the 75th Ranger Regiment conducts. The U. S. Army and its physical training manual, FM 21-20 and the 75th Ranger Regiment stress that the purpose of physical training is to help prepare soldiers for the rigor of combat. To ensure that this intent is met leaders must first understand the extent to which each of the components of physical fitness are involved in the mission before they can design a physical training program that helps meet the demands of combat. The results of this study indicate though the 75th Ranger Regiment maintains a high standard of physical fitness the physical training program, with its heavy emphasis on aerobic endurance, does not reflect the strength, flexibility, coordination and speed demands of combat.