This monograph examines the relationship between the United States Army's physical fitness program and the physical combat readiness of the combat arms soldier. Linking together physical fitness standards, physical training, and combat readiness is accomplished using entrance and retention standards, initial entry training (IET), and unit physical training and testing. The actual physical combat task performance depends on the quality of the soldier produced by the physical fitness program. Past and present physical fitness doctrine and the physical nature of the combat environment are examined to provide a touchstone for the readers information. The monograph then argues that today's physical fitness program is not capable of producing the combat arms soldiers the U.S. Army requires. Misconceptions about the positive affects of mechanization, the over importance of aerobic fitness, female physiological limitations and the negative aspects of body fat composition, all contribute to a flawed program. Recommendations for the U.S. Army to overcome the current -program deficiencies are to increase the accession standards, improve organizational training and establish physical standards based on combat requirements, not general wellness. The conclusion of this monograph is that only a thread of linkage exists between the U.S. Army's physical fitness program and the combat arms soldier's combat readiness. Strengthening the linkage of the program to the product is the key to filling the nation's combat arms with the most survivable, lethal and combat ready soldier in the future.

ADA 324407 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)