The Future of Joint Force Fitness: Not Every Marine a Rifleman...and That is Okay

Abstract

This paper analyzes the current physical and combat fitness readiness requirements of each branch of service in order to determine the best evaluator for the joint force of the future. The study was prompted by the emerging five-domain battle-space and the historic recruiting and retention issues the services face in low-density, highly-technical skill areas, such as cyber. The research is an analysis of the current physical fitness regulations of each branch, as well as some civilian measures of performance. Ultimately, the paper argues, that to improve recruiting and retention in the five-domain battle, the joint force should adopt the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Combat Fitness Test (CFT) and United States Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT). The tests were found to be the most comprehensive and relevant evaluators of physical and combat readiness for service-members serving in all domains, indiscriminate of occupational specialty, gender, or age.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 30, 2018
Accession Number
AD1177143

Entities

People

  • Michael S Poling

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Army Rangers
  • Body Composition
  • Combat Readiness
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Department Of Defense
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Health
  • Information Operations
  • Management Personnel
  • Marine Corps
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Naval Operations
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Physical Fitness
  • Public Health
  • Recruiting
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Special Operations Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Personnel Management

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Space