US Army updating its training system by Zuzana Zelenakova

The US army is about to change its training regimen in order to prepare soldier better for real life battles. That means working more on their abs, sprints and fistfight and less with bayonets. It is the first major change in the US training system since women and men began to train together in 1980. The change is coming after experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan. “We don’t run five miles in combat, but you run across the street every day,” exclaims Frank Palkoska, the head of the Army’s Fitness School in Fort Jackson. “I’m not training long-distance runners. I’m training warriors.” As soldiers need to be mobile in every sit! uation, under load or without it, their basic training will focus on gaining strength, agility and might remind more of classic workout you can seen in a gym. This will be at the expense of long distance runs and bayonet drills. “They have to understand hand-to-hand combat, to use something other than their weapon, a piece of wood, a knife, anything they can pick up,” according to 1st Sgt. Michael Todd, a veteran who served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. Also, one of the aims is to educate soldiers, who come from “more obese and sedentary generation” in a healthier lifestyle. As they did not have that much physical education at school as older generation heir core body and bone strength is most probably a bit neglected. “We just have to take the soldier who’s used to sitting on the couch playing video games and get them out there to do it,” shares Capt. Kenny Fleming. The new plan is scheduled to be introduced in the course of this! month at four US Army basic combat training sites: Fort Benni! ng, Geor gia; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri;, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Knox, Kentucky.

related story (sgx16780): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100316/ap_on_re_us/us_new_basic...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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