Royal Marines Fitness Tests - Royal Navy PDev Portal

Royal Marines Fitness Tests
ROYAL MARINES FITNESS TESTS
POLICY STATEMENT
Introduction
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Physical fitness is a fundamental requirement for every member of the Royal
Marines in order to ensure combat effectiveness, job performance, and general
health are maintained. Furthermore, physical fitness is an indispensable aspect
of leadership that is essential to the day to day effectiveness and combat
readiness of the Royal Marines. The degree of self-discipline required to gain
and retain high levels of physical fitness is inherent in the Royal Marines way of
life and must be part of the character of every member of the Royal Marines.
Royal Marines who are unfit reduce the effectiveness of their Units
and detract from the overall performance and public image of the
Royal Marines.
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A high level of personal fitness is also required in addition to vocational and
combat fitness. Personal fitness improves appearance, self-confidence, team
cohesion and self-discipline, while reducing susceptibility to muscular fatigue,
injury, mental stress and ill health.
Aim
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The aim of this document is to detail the minimum requirement of physical
fitness training and testing for all Royal Marines, in order to ensure that
individuals are prepared for the physical and psychological demands of combat.
Policy
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Physical Fitness. Physical Fitness may be defined as:
“The ability to respond and adapt instantly and effectively to the physical and
psychological demands of life in the Royal Marines whether in Combat or not,
with a minimum of distress, and to return to a normal healthy state once that
demand has been removed.”
Military Fitness. Within this definition, military fitness can be measured
against 3 different criteria.
a. Personal Fitness. Personal fitness is required to protect individuals from
injury, reduce the risk of psychological stress and hypo kinetic disease
(disease resulting from inactivity), enhance quality of life and reduce the
risk of dying prematurely.
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