Altered Physical Performance Following Advanced Special Operations Tactical Training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how the unique challenges of specific military tactical training phases influence overall physical performance characteristics. Broad jump, 5-10-5, 300-yd shuttle, percent body fat (%BF), anaerobic power (AP) and anaerobic capacity (AC), maximal oxygen uptake (V Ȯ2 max), isokinetic knee extension/flexion strength, shoulder internal/external rotation strength, and trunk extension/flexion strength were collected on 73 United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) students (age: 27.4 6 3.8 years, height: 178.7 6 6.6 cm, and body mass: 85.8 6 9.4 kg) at the beginning of (P1), in between (P2), and at the completion of 2 distinct tactical training phases (P3). Linear mixed models were used to analyze within-subject performance changes over the 3 time points, and post hoc Bonferroni pairwise comparisons analyzed performance changes between each testing time point. There were significant changes in broad jump (p , 0.0001), 5-10-5 agility time (p , 0.001), %BF (p 5 0.011), AP (p , 0.0001), V Ȯ2 max (p 5 0.001), and both right and left shoulder internal rotation strength (p 5 0.004 and p 5 0.015, respectively) between P1 and P2. There were also significant changes in 300-yd shuttle run time (p 5 0.001), AP (p , 0.0001), AC (p , 0.0001), left knee extension strength (p 5 0.006), trunk flexion strength (p , 0.0001), and left shoulder external rotation strength (0.027) between P2 and P3. Identifying the effect that specific tactical training phases may have on physical performance will allow for the development of effective phase-specific evidence-based human performance programs, reducing performance deficits and thereby reducing the risk of injury.

Biomotor Abilities for Law Enforcement Officer Readiness

“…Significant phase-specific changes in overall physical performance were observed during the individualised training course, including decreases in body fat percentage, anaerobic capacity, and maximal oxygen uptake. Current performance training during the course improves critical strength and power aspects [34].…”

Unique Strength and Conditioning Coach Considerations for First Responder Trainee Fitness Development

“…The cumulative effect of learning the necessary physically demanding job-specific skills (e.g., defensive tactics for law enforcement trainee and firefighting techniques for firefighter trainees) could have deleterious effects on fitness for the trainee. For instance, Winters et al (74) reported that intensive job-specific skill training in Marine Raider students decreased aerobic capacity and shoulder external rotation strength. Therefore, the trainee must have the physical resilience to withstand the combination of general fitness and job-specific skills training.…”

An Examination of Subjective and Objective Measures of Stress in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review

“…Demands often faced by tactical personnel include exposure to extreme environments, maneuvering across difficult and unpredictable terrain, heavy load carriage, disaster response, evading human threats, evacuating casualties, and many other tasks that require intense physical labor in austere environments [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. As such, the rigorous nature of the profession exposes individuals to multiple stressors that can have a negative impact on performance characteristics that are critical to the duties they must carry out [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…Even the smallest performance decrement could potentially be life threatening to the individual and others around them. Therefore, a high level of performance while overcoming various threats is critical for successful achievement of task and mission objectives [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. Additionally, the long-term health and resilience of these personnel are dependent upon their ability to tolerate these demands and respond to stressors over time.…”