Navy Considering 2k as Cardio Alternative for PRT

[Tenshuu]

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-nav ... nd-rowing/

They are using the C2 specifically. I'm not familiar with the physical requirement tests in the military, but does anyone here have insight into how those tests have evolved in the past 20-30 years?

What other exercises have been changed over the years?

[Allan Olesen]

Really, she really likes that word, really.

[Cyclist2]

They are using the C2 specifically. I'm not familiar with the physical requirement tests in the military, but does anyone here have insight into how those tests have evolved in the past 20-30 years?

What other exercises have been changed over the years?

Being a 20 year Navy veteran, I've seen many iterations of the PRT. It seems to change with every new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The main problem is that the people in the Navy fit the same profile as the rest of Americans - generally overweight and unfit and if it was too strict, they wouldn't be able to keep many sailors on board! Plus, most of the jobs in the Navy are not real physical (just like any big government bureaucracy) and working hours are long. Sound like the rest of America? I remember one phase where they were strictly discharging people (or trying to) who couldn't pass the PRT or meet the weight requirements. When that didn't work, they tried something else. Some science goes into the process each change and I think they try to keep up with the latest fitness/healthy lifestyle trends (which for this go round, according to that article, seems to be leaning toward Crossfit). However, it falls on the individual commands as to how strict the PRT regulations are followed - some commands give people dedicated time to train and hold people to the standards, others not so much. Those that passed the "old" test will pass the "new" test, and likewise for those that couldn't.

[nates]

Am on the only one who finds it extremely ironic that the Navy is just now getting around to adding rowing as an option for cardio?

[blues_]

I don't think it's just the Navy.

A neighbor in the U.S. Army (Reserves) mentioned that in his forthcoming physical, rowing was one of the options aside from other relatively new alternatives to running.

[nates]

The irony being that it's the Navy and they're all about some tradition. I'd expect rowing to be a big thing there even if the science weren't behind it.

[8sWwr2]

Thanks for posting. Interesting to see where they are going. When I retired after 25 years in 2004, I could still beat most of the young kids out of boot camp at PT with ease. They couldn't keep up when I led PT. We'd do pyramid push ups and many would drop out lol.

[Allan Olesen]

When I retired after 25 years in 2004, I could still beat most of the young kids out of boot camp at PT with ease. They couldn't keep up when I led PT. We'd do pyramid push ups and many would drop out lol.

Could you be more clear? Are you saying that they were judged on their ability to keep up with a random person - in this case you?

I would have assumed that such tests would use objective, reproducible criteria.

[Carl Watts]

Typically they use running over here. I guess its for several reasons like you can train for it with only a pair of shoes and there is no technique to it as such because it should just be a natural exercise.

Would have loved the erg as the test myself as I hated running. The Police physical requirement was a 2.
4km run with the time depending on age. It was something I had to train for to hit the 12min 15sec barrier.

[Cyclist2]

When I retired after 25 years in 2004, I could still beat most of the young kids out of boot camp at PT with ease. They couldn't keep up when I led PT. We'd do pyramid push ups and many would drop out lol.

Could you be more clear? Are you saying that they were judged on their ability to keep up with a random person - in this case you?

I would have assumed that such tests would use objective, reproducible criteria.

Yes, the tests objective and are age dependent. They are usually monitored and recorded very well. I think what he's saying is that he was in better condition than the recruits. I could easily pass the PRT; aced it usually except for the run and my goal there was to beat my immediate supervisor, who thought he was a pretty serious runner, as that was the only way I could get even a word of praise out of the a$$. Competition always comes into play, doesn't it?

It goes back to the point I made earlier - the general population, including new Navy recruits is out of shape. The military tries hard to mandate physical fitness, but they also require you to work long hours and stand duty. So unless a person really enjoys working out and dedicates time to it, they will barely pass the PRT, and some get a little "help" to do it. 8sWwr2 evidently liked it and enjoyed beating the young guys. So did I.