The Army Training System - AskTOP

All profiled soldiersshould do as much ofthe regular fitnessprogram as they can,along with substituteactivities.soldier, little of this initial weight lossis due to the loss of fat.Soldiers should be weighed undersimilar circumstances and at the sametime each day. This helps avoid falsemeasurements due to normal fluctuationsin their body weight during theday. As a soldier develops muscularendurance and strength, lean musclemass generally increases. Because muscleweighs more per unit of volume thanfat. caution is advised in assessing hisprogress. Just because a soldier is notlosing weight rapidly does not necessarilymean he is not losing fat. In fact,a good fitness program often results ingaining muscle mass while simultaneouslylosing fat weight. If therereasonable doubt, his percentagebody fat should be determined.Soldiers with ProfilesisofThis manual stresses what soldierscan do while on medical profile ratherthan what they cannot do.DOD Directive 1308.1 requires that,“Those personnel identified with medicallylimiting defects shall be placed ina physical fitness program consistentwith their limitations as advised bymedical authorities.”AR 350-15 states, “For individualswith limiting profiles, commanderswill develop physical fitness programsin cooperation with health care personnel.”The Office of the Surgeon Generalhas developed DA Form 3349 to easethe exchange of information betweenhealth care personnel and the units. Onthis form, health care personnel list,along with limitations, those activitiesthat the profiled soldier can do tomaintain his fitness level. With thisinformation, the unit should directprofiled soldiers to participate in theactivities they can do. (An example ofDA Form 3349 is in Appendix B.)All profiled soldiers should takepart in as much of the regular fitnessprogram as they can. Appropriate activitiesshould be substituted to replacethose regular activities in whichthey cannot participate.Chapter 2 describes some aerobicactivities the soldier can do to maintaincardiorespiratory fitness when hecannot run. Chapter 3 shows how tostrengthen each body part. Applyingthis information should allow somestrength training to continue evenwhen body parts are injured. Thesame principle applies to flexibility(Chapter 4).Medical treatment and rehabilitationshould be aimed at restoring thesoldier to a suitable level of physicalfitness. Such treatment should useappropriate, progressive physical activitieswith medical or unit supervision.MFTs can help profiled soldiers byexplaining alternative exercises andhow to do them safely under thelimitations of their profile. MFTs arenot, however, trained to diagnose injuriesor prescribe rehabilitative exerciseprograms. This is the domain ofqualified medical personnel.The activity levels of soldiers usuallydecrease while they are recoveringfrom sickness or injury. As a result,they should pay special attention totheir diets to avoid gaining body fat.This guidance becomes more importantas soldiers grow older. Withmedical supervision, proper diet, andthe right PT programs, soldiers shouldbe able to overcome their physicalprofiles and quickly return to theirnormal routines and fitness levels.Age as a Factor in PhysicalFitnessSoldiers who are age 40 and olderrepresent the Army’s senior leadership.On the battlefield, they mustlead other soldiers under conditions ofsevere stress. To meet this challenge1-13