Team Fitness Impact On Specific Military & Physical Events During An International Military Skills Competition; Implications To Military Training

Fitness and fatigue influence performance in a number of military and physical events. A robust 2-day event (Day 1; 12 events with movement between and a final ~8.5 mile ruck march; Day 2; 5 events) with 47 teams (national/international; 11 members/team) in a military skills competition (MSC) with composite scores was analyzed. PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of team fitness and fatigue on specific military and physical events in an international MSC. METHODS: Team fitness defined as “total time on feet” (ruck marching and comprehensive movement summation) was grouped via each additional 15-minute per mile graduations; creating six stratified groups. Tertile grouping (high, moderate, low) and quadrant grouping related to fitness and fatigue state were analyzed using ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s HSD comparing physical, tactical, and technical military skills events. RESULTS: Six stratified groups (high to low fitness) revealed a negative linear dosing impact on MSC point totals (F = 15.3; p < 0.001) with a leveling out on the lowest two fitness groups. High to low tertile fitness statistically impacted the overall MSC point total; {1501, 1145.8, 783.7; (F = 27.8; p < 0.001)} and selected physical events but was less impactful (F = 6.7; p < 0.01) on M4 marksmanship {115.5, 86.9 (p = 0.15); 86.9 vs 58.2 (p = 0.06)} and medical care (F = 0.70; p = 0.50). Quadrant start position to a selected physical event (a factor of fatigue) was less impactful than overall fitness to the event {89.3/82.5 (fit) vs 49.0/18.5 (less fit) (p < 0.01)} and MSC points (F = 55.7; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fitness has a potent influence in one’s MSC point total and specific physical events. Fitness as a marker of fatigue state can overcome a team’s start position; in both a selected physical event and overall MSC points. However, M4 marksmanship events and specificity training to specific technical (medical care) and tactical skills are required for overall mission success underscoring military training requires robust specificity event training.