Military Review English Edition September-October 2014 | Page 23

PHYSICAL READINESS TRAINING

training, new soldiers can go to their units prepared
to participate in appropriate advanced training, to improve fitness through their unit’s introductory program
under a certified master fitness trainer.
Develop additional Army publications that concisely discuss practical application of the principles
in FM 7-22. The Army needs to develop subordinate
publications that explain specific techniques for conducting training. Those publications should define for
soldiers and commanders the functional movements,
their progressions, and increasing levels of complexity
that result in the ability to express power across broad
time and modal domains. The publications should provide more precise sample programming for NCOs and
officers responsible for planning PRT sessions and give
guidance on the relationship and responsibilities of the
master fitness trainer and the unit leadership.
FM 7-22 ties progression and phasing of PRT to
basic combat training in the ARFORGEN rotational

Sgt. Kissta DiGregorio, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division Public Affairs

Soldiers should be recommended by their commanders to attend master fitness trainer level I much
as they are recommended for drill sergeant and
recruiter school. Selected soldiers should have high
general technical scores, display a predisposition and
passion for physical fitness, and be open minded and
willing to learn.
Keep physical readiness training in its current format for basic combat training. The current
PRT program is sufficient for basic combat training.
Many soldiers enter the military with no background
in physical training. The program provides a gentle,
progressive stimulus that most new recruits can handle,
and according to Knapik et al, it produces desired
adaptation within the eight-week basic combat training
period.18 It is appropriate for the time constraints of
basic combat training, and in a repetitive environment
such as basic, it is relatively simple for drill sergeants to
administer. Upon completion of PRT at basic combat

Sgt. 1st Class Montrell Kea and his teammates push a light medium tactical vehicle across the battalion motorpool as part of the leader
physical training challenge at Fort Bragg, N.C., 27 March 2012. This training event brought the battalion’s senior noncommissioned officers
and commissioned officers together to foster teamwork and camaraderie.
MILITARY REVIEW  September-October 2014

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