The Army Training System - AskTOP

landing areas should be raked andrefilled before each use. Puddles ofwater under obstacles can cause a falsesense of security. These could result inimproper landing techniques and seriousinjuries. Leaders should postponetraining on obstacle courses when wetweather makes them slippery.Units should prepare their soldiersto negotiate obstacle courses by doingconditioning exercises beforehand. Soldiersshould attain an adequate level ofconditioning before they run the confidencecourse, Soldiers who have notpracticed the basic skills or run theconditioning course should not be allowedto use the confidence course.Instructors must explain and demonstratethe correct ways to negotiateall obstacles before allowing soldiers torun them. Assistant instructors shouldsupervise the negotiation of higher,more dangerous obstacles. The emphasisis on avoiding injury. Soldiersshould practice each obstacle until theyare able to negotiate it. Before they runthe course against time, they shouldmake several slow runs while the instructorwatches and makes neededcorrections. Soldiers should never beallowed to run the course against timeuntil they have practiced on all theobstacles.CONDITIONING OBSTACLE COURSESIf possible, an obstacle course shouldbe shaped like a horseshoe or figureeight so that the finish is close to thestart. Also, signs should be placed toshow the route.A course usually ranges from 300 to450 yards and has 15 to 25 obstaclesthat are 20 to 30 yards apart. Theobstacles are arranged so that thosewhich exercise the same groups ofmuscles are separated from one another.The obstacles must be solidly built.Peeled logs that are six to eight incheswide are ideal for most of them. Sharppoints and corners should be eliminated,and landing pits for jumps orvaults must be filled with sand or sawdust.Courses should be built andmarked so that soldiers cannot sidestepobstacles or detour around them.Sometimes, however, courses can providealternate obstacles that vary indifficulty.Each course should be wide enoughfor six to eight soldiers to use at thesame time, thus encouraging competition.The lanes for the first fewobstacles should be wider and theobstacles easier than those that follow.In this way, congestion is avoided andsoldiers can spread out on the course.To minimize the possibility of fallsand injuries due to fatigue, the lasttwo or three obstacles should not betoo difficult or involve high climbing.Trainers must always be aware thatfalls from the high obstacles couldcause serious injury. Soldiers must bein proper physical condition, closelysupervised, and adequately instructed.The best way for the timer to timethe runners is to stand at the finish andcall out the minutes and seconds aseach soldier finishes. If several watchesare available, each wave of soldiers istimed separately. If only one watch isavailable, the waves are started atregular intervals such as every 30seconds. If a soldier fails to negotiatean obstacle, a previously determinedpenalty is imposed.When the course is run against time,stopwatches, pens, and a unit rosterare needed. Soldiers may run thecourse with or without individualequipment.Obstacles for JumpingThese obstacles are ditches to clearwith one leap, trenches to jump into,heights to jump from, or hurdles. (SeeFigure 8-l.)Instructors must explainand demonstrate thecorrect ways tonegotiate all obstaclesbefore allowing soldiersto run them.8-2