Purpose: Basic military training provides foundational training for recruits, and involves many physical demanding activities. These physical and physiological challenges are associated with an increased incidence of musculoskeletal injury, particularly amongst female recruits. Previous work has shown that military recruits with higher levels of aerobic fitness and muscular strength at the commencement of basic training have a lower incidence of musculoskeletal injury. To help mitigate the risk of injury in Australian Army female recruits a 12-week community-based pre-conditioning program implemented prior to basic military training was evaluated.

As most readers of this Journal would be aware, gender restrictions on the employment of women in the combat arms of the Australian Army have been removed, effective 1 January 2016 (Department of Defence, 2012a).