Retention in service of recruits assigned to the Army Physical Fitness Test Enhancement Program in basic combat training

Military Medicine, Jun 2003 by Knapik, Joseph J, Hauret, Keith G, Lange, Jeffery L, Jovag, Brian

Recruits are assigned to the Army Physical Fitness Test Enhancement Program (APFTEP) if they are unable to pass the final Army physical fitness test at the end of basic combat training (BCT). The U.S. Army Medical Command tasked the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine to examine the retention in service of individuals completing this program. To accomplish this tasking, the following data were obtained: a list of APFTEP recruits at Fort Jackson, South Carolina between January 1999 and June 2001; a list of BCT graduates from the Army Training Requirements and Resources System; and a comparison group of non-APFTEP recruits matched 3 to 1 on the basis of age, gender, Army entry date ( or -30 days), BCT location, and active Army status from the Army Medical Surveillance Activity. We found that the proportion of recruits who successfully completed the APFTEP and graduated from BCT (85% of men, 80% of women) was lower than documented graduation rates for all recruits (93% of men, 87% of women). Retention in service after 1 year was also lower for APFTEP recruits than for non-APFTEP recruits among both men (74% vs. 92%, p

Introduction

Recruits in basic combat training (BCT) are assigned to the Army Physical Fitness Test Enhancement Program (APFTEP) if they are unable to pass the final Army physical fitness test (APFT) by the end of their BCT cycle. Recruits must have successfully completed all other BCT requirements. The APFTEP allows recruits additional time to concentrate on guided physical fitness improvement and additional opportunities to take the APFT.

The APFT is designed to measure aerobic endurance and muscular strength/endurance.1 The test involves three events: push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run, administered in that order. The push-ups and sit-ups are the maximum number completed in two separate 2-minute periods. For the 2-mile run, time to complete the distance is the performance measure. To "pass" the APFT, recruits must meet specific age- and gender-adjusted standards that are based on normative data.2

Recruits assigned to the APFTEP receive both military and physical training. Military training sustains general knowledge and skills learned in BCT, including drill and ceremony, military justice, and common soldier skills and tasks; in addition, goal-setting, self-control, stress control, and relaxation techniques are covered. Physical training is conducted six times per week and emphasizes working on each individual's weaker areas. Although it is difficult to generalize (because of individual problems), training involves running three times per week and muscular strength and endurance training (push-up/sit-up improvement, partner resisted exercises) three times per week. Soldiers are generally split into groups based on push-up/sit-up difficulties or run difficulties for work on specific problem areas. APFTs are given once a week and a recruit is given 4 weeks to pass (with an option for a fifth week if progressive improvement is evident). Recruits that pass the APFT graduate from BCT and proceed to their next duty assignment. Recruits unable to pass the APFT are discharged from military service.

In June 2001, the U.S. Army Medical Command tasked the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine to determine the retention rates of soldiers who had been attached to the APFTEP. At that time, programs were in place at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma (three of the five U.S. Army posts conducting BCT or one-station unit training). However, Fort Knox did not have systematic records of APFTEP personnel, and the Fort Sill program had only been in existence for a short period of time. The present study examines the BCT graduation success and 1-year retention in service of personnel assigned to the APFTEP at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Methods

The APFTEP at Fort Jackson, South Carolina is part of the Fitness Training Company located at the reception station (where recruits first arrive for BCT). The Fitness Training Company provided information on recruits who were in the APFTEP from January 1999 to June 2001. This included 637 men and 746 women. To evaluate the success of the APFTEP recruits in graduating from BCT, the Army Training Requirements and Resources System provided graduation status.

To evaluate retention in service after BCT graduation, a retrospective cohort design was used. Case subjects were recruits assigned to the APFTEP. For each case subject, three control subjects were requested from the Army Medical Surveillance Activity (AMSA). Control subjects were matched with case subjects on the following criteria: age ( or -3 years), gender, entry date into the Army ( or -30 days), post where BCT was performed, and active Army status (no Army Reserves or National Guard). In selecting controls, soldiers who were on active duty for a period shorter than 11 weeks (the length of BCT plus 2 additional weeks) were considered "discharged" while in BCT and were excluded from consideration. The data from the AMSA included each soldier's (case and control subjects) current status in the Army (discharged or still on active service). For those who were discharged, a date of discharge was obtained. From these data, the length of time each discharged soldier served on active duty was calculated.