An Evaluation of a Combat Conditioning Trial Program

Abstract

Proper alignment of physical training practices with operational requirements is an ongoing concern for the U.S. Marine Corps. This alignment is being revisited in light of recent combat experiences. Greater emphasis on core strength and power are believed to be needed. A program designed specifically to develop these areas of capability was compared with usual conditioning practices. The Combat Conditioning Trial Program (CCTP) produced gains in core strength and power as intended, with no loss of cardiorespiratory fitness or upper body strength and power. The usual combat conditioning program did produce greater gains in cardiorespiratory fitness, but this trend may have been the result of relatively poor fitness when the study began. The CCTP produced a trend toward lower injury rates. The CCTP achieved its objectives of improving core strength and power without adverse effects on other areas of fitness or injury. Combat Conditioning Trial Program 1Combat operations in Iraq have raised concerns about the relevance of traditional physical training practices to current needs. Many operations are carried out in urban settings. Personnel must function with heavy loads of equipment, including personal protective armor. Traditional physical training programs may not be aligned with today's combat requirements (Amos, 2006).A functional fitness concept has been developed to provide the proper alignment of training with operational requirements. Functional fitness is the "…ability to perform a broad array of natural or realistic physical work. For Marines that work involves all the tasks associated with performance in combat" (Amos, 2006). Key elements of the functional fitness concept include: Fitness follows combat function.  Physical training must develop power, strength, flexibility, speed, endurance, agility, and coordination.  Physical training must have great intensity and variety.  Physical training must be scalable to individual level and be progressive.  Training must emphasize "injury proofing" and active recovery.The concept of functional fitness has been refined to define combat fitness as the goal of physical training. Basic combat fitness is "The minimum maintenance level of individual physical fitness linked to the physical demands associated with Marine Corps service requirements." Beyond this advanced combat fitness is "The level of physical fitness related to operational readiness, which is required to support the unit's operational mission."The U.S. Marine Corps has developed a trial program corresponding to the combat fitness concept. The present report compares this Combat Conditioning Trial Program (CCTP) with the usual combat conditioning. The CCTP was developed by the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Center for Excellence (MACE), with input from other Marine Corps and civilian physical training experts. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) developed and implemented the plan for evaluating the CCTP. The Problem of Combat ConditioningThe development of combat fitness concept...

The Benefits of High-Intensity Functional Training Fitness Programs for Military Personnel

“…At the end of the study period, both programs demonstrated equivalent performance on the USMC Physical Fitness Test and on measures of aerobic capacity, as measured in a variety of ways (e.g., 5k row and 1 mile run times). However, Marines in the CCTP group demonstrated superior core strength and power, agility, upper and lower by muscle endurance and power, and anaerobic capacity, while also experiencing significantly lower training and running volumes 58 .…”

“…The Naval Health Research Center conducted a 12-week HIFT study comparing a new Combat Conditioning Trial Program (CCTP) with traditional Marine combat physical training in two US Marine Corps (USMC) battalions 58 . Development of the CCTP was prompted by the recent interest by the USMC in promoting functional fitness among Marines 10 .…”

“…The overall goals of the CCTP were to improve functional fitness and reduce injuries when compared to traditional USMC combat physical training using an approach that would be viable for use under field conditions and that would develop the full range of physical capabilities needed in combat 58 . At the end of the study period, both programs demonstrated equivalent performance on the USMC Physical Fitness Test and on measures of aerobic capacity, as measured in a variety of ways (e.g., 5k row and 1 mile run times).…”

Is High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT)/CrossFit Safe for Military Fitness Training?

“…The Naval Health Research Center conducted a 12-week HIFT study comparing a new Combat Conditioning Trial Program (CCTP) with traditional USMC combat PT in two battalions 42 . CCTP emphasized functional movements performed at sustained levels of high-intensity.…”

“…CCTP emphasized functional movements performed at sustained levels of high-intensity. CCTP workouts pushed Marines to perform “as many rounds as possible” of a set of functional movements in a fixed period of time 42 . They reported that Marines in CCTP experienced a 21% lower injury rate than Marines engaging in traditional combat PT.…”