Army alters drills to hone strength in basic training

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Susanne M. Schafer -

Associated Press

FORT JACKSON, S.C. - New soldiers are grunting through the kind of stretches and twists found in "ab blaster" classes at suburban gyms as the Army revamps its basic-training regimen for the first time in three decades.

Heeding the advice of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans, commanders are dropping 5-mile runs and bayonet drills in favor of zigzag sprints and exercises that hone core muscles. Battlefield sergeants say that's the kind of fitness needed to dodge across alleys, walk patrol with heavy packs and body armor or haul a buddy out of a burning vehicle.

"Soldiers need to be able to move quickly under load, to be mobile under load, with your body armor, your weapons and your helmet, in a stressful situation," said Frank Palkoska, head of the Army's Fitness School at Fort Jackson.

"We geared all of our calisthenics, all of our running movements, all of our warrior skills, so soldiers can become stronger, more powerful and more speed-driven," Palkoska said.

The exercises are part of the first major overhaul in Army basic fitness training since men and women began training together in 1980, he said.

The new plan is being expanded this month at the Army's four other basic-training installations at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Benning, Ga.; and Fort Knox, Ky.

Drill sergeants with experience in the current wars are credited with urging the Army to change training, in particular to build up core-muscle strength. One of them is 1st Sgt. Michael Todd, a veteran of seven deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

On a recent training day, Todd was spinning recruits around to give them the feel of rolling out of a tumbled Humvee. Then, he tossed on the ground pugil sticks made of plastic pipe and foam, forcing trainees to crawl for their weapons before they pounded away on each other.

"They have to understand hand-to-hand combat, to use something other than their weapon, a piece of wood, a knife, anything they can pick up," Todd said.

The new training also uses "more calisthenics to build core body power, strength and agility," Palkoska said.

"Most of these soldiers have never been in a fistfight or any kind of a physical confrontation. They are stunned when they get smacked in the face," said Capt. Scott Sewell, overseeing almost 190 trainees in their third week of training. "We are trying to get them to act, to think like warriors."

For hours, Sewell and his drill sergeants urge on helmeted trainees as they whale away at each other with pugil sticks, landing head and body blows until one falls flat on the ground. As a victor slams away at his flattened foe, a drill sergeant whistles the fight to a halt.

The Marine Corps also is applying war lessons to its physical training.

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Edited March 17, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"Most of these soldiers have never been in a fistfight or any kind of a physical confrontation.

Umm, what? How is that even possible? If you're female ok I can see it, girls resolve conflict by backtalking and ostracizing, but boys? I can't count the number of fights we got into as boys in middle school and high school. It's a way of life.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Umm, what? How is that even possible? If you're female ok I can see it, girls resolve conflict by backtalking and ostracizing, but boys? I can't count the number of fights we got into as boys in middle school and high school. It's a way of life.

Guns are the best self defense.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Guns are the best self defense.

Stop being retarded. What kind of boy goes through the 12th grade and never gets into a physical confrontation? It just doesn't happen. Even the weaker kids get beaten up, that counts for something.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Umm, what? How is that even possible? If you're female ok I can see it, girls resolve conflict by backtalking and ostracizing, but boys? I can't count the number of fights we got into as boys in middle school and high school. It's a way of life.

Don't ask, don't tell.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Don't ask, don't tell.

????????

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Stop being retarded. What kind of boy goes through the 12th grade and never gets into a physical confrontation? It just doesn't happen. Even the weaker kids get beaten up, that counts for something.

If everyone carried a gun, playgrounds would never be overrun by bullies...because they'd all been shot dead in self defense. Guns are the only true method of self defense.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If everyone carried a gun, playgrounds would never be overrun by bullies...because they'd all been shot dead in self defense. Guns are the only true method of self defense.

If it was up to me, I'd mandate you take a one week break from VJ. Sounds like you need it.

[Calypso 464]

Military drills help produce fit and sexy individuals that will join beauty pageants.

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge of the British Army (crowned Miss England 2009 for Miss World):

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If it was up to me, I'd mandate you take a one week break from VJ. Sounds like you need it.

[Calypso 464]

"They have to understand hand-to-hand combat, to use something other than their weapon, a piece of wood, a knife, anything they can pick up," Todd said.

Sounds reasonable.

"Most of these soldiers have never been in a fistfight or any kind of a physical confrontation. They are stunned when they get smacked in the face..."

"We are trying to get them to act, to think like warriors."

How do warriors think?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Military drills help produce fit and sexy individuals that will join beauty pageants.

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge of the British Army (crowned Miss England 2009 for Miss World):

Whoah...I'd like to get wrestled to the ground by her.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I wonder if this change in training will make my gallstones hate the military less?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I wonder if this change in training will make my gallstones hate the military less?

You should get them removed. The scar isn't that bad.

[Peikko 1,575]

Sounds like an excellent idea. People in the military should be physically fit - and why not used proven methods to get them fit? Now we need to instigate National Service and all our young people will be strong warriors and cast fear into the hearts of our enemies . Currently our enemies think we are a nation of Mr Blobbies...