Research Paper Title

Materials Handling Ability of Regular and Reserve British Army Soldiers.

Background

The main objective of this research was to compare the materials handling ability, aerobic power, and body composition of fully trained Reserve and Regular male British Army soldiers (∼6–7 years of military experience).

Methods

Twenty-one Reserve soldiers and 15 Regular soldiers completed fitness tests, including a maximal box lift to 1.45 m and a repetitive 22-kg box lift-and-carry test.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups in any parameter measured.

Conclusions

The performance levels observed in these fully trained soldiers (maximal box lift ∼63 kg, repetitive lift and carry ∼34 repetitions) were broadly comparable to those reported previously for new recruits.

The physical training performed by the Regular soldiers (both within and beyond their military service) and the Reserve soldiers (predominantly outside their military duties) seems to be of sufficient volume and intensity to maintain performance levels comparable with each other and equivalent new army recruits.

Reference

Williams, A.G. & Evans, P. (2007) Materials Handling Ability of Regular and Reserve British Army Soldiers. Military Medicine. 172(2), pp.220-223. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED.172.2.220.