Joe, that’s a wonderful jumping off point for this topic. I do have plenty of examples of workouts and, of course, I also have a very strong opinion about combat-focused PT.

“Functional Fitness is Combat-Focused” – As a starting point, your comment about exercises and events that simulate combat scenarios is definitely an excellent core principle. Long, slow runs are almost the exact opposite of combat-focused PT and it’s also one of the least effective workouts, yet it is still incredibly common because it’s so easy to plan, resource, and conduct. Meanwhile, circuits, ladders, and sprint workouts require more planning and resourcing, but those are more aligned with the physical demands of military operations.

“Start with Why” – Military fitness programming often seems to miss the mark when it comes to having a method to the madness. Many of the examples that you just gave can be excellent workouts, but without a clear purpose or tie to a mission, they can easily strike the wrong chord with the soldiers participating. The “why” of each day does not need to be the same, but if the “why” isn’t clear then you’ll lose buy in.

Let’s compare two examples:

1) Ultimate Frisbee with ACUs, boots and kit – This can be a fun break from the monotony of formation calisthenics, but what’s the objective of this as a workout? Is the goal to simply have fun and a mild workout? What practical application does this replicate? If the goal is to build esprit de corps on a Friday morning – great – but I’d hesitate to use this as a primary workout for the week.

2) Squad Competition with Rucks and Water Cans – If your unit is properly conditioned to conduct this level of PT, carrying loads can be a very different (fun) challenge. Building mental toughness through challenging PT is a delicate balance of pushing your teams hard versus breaking them. It’s up to the leader to assess what amount of demand is appropriate for the team. Team events like this also challenge leaders to maintain control of exhausted and stressed soldiers – a mission essential task – while also building team cohesion.

I’ll pause here and solicit some feedback from the community.

1) Which of the workouts above fits a unit’s physical fitness demands better?

2) In your opinion, which is more fun?

3) As a leader, risk assessments are important and losing soldiers to injuries is an important consideration: which event presents a greater risk for injury? Why?