Soldiers use weighted medicine balls to do strength training and improve their core strength during functional circuit training on Thursday. Photo by Lacey Justinger.
PT turns Soldiers into tactical athletes
Lacey Justinger
Fort Bliss Public Affairs
In preparation for Iron Works, the Army Strong Strength and Conditioning Center opening on East Fort Bliss Oct. 24, Stout Gym housed a multiple-circuit, functional PT training for more than 200 Soldiers.
“The goal of today was to expose as many Soldiers as possible to this type of training so that they could see what it is about and to get them excited for the functional training center that is opening,” said Capt. Allen Trujillo, commander of C Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment. “It’s a new line of thinking and a new style of fitness in the Army.”
Doug Briggs, Stout Gym director of human performance, coached the Soldiers from 4-6 IR, Doña Ana Base Camp and the University of Texas at El Paso ROTC through three distinct circuits consisting of 10 stations each in less than an hour.
“We ramped it up a little more with three different circuits to introduce Soldiers to a new way of thinking and training,” said Briggs. “This is a really awesome workout in a short period of time. We have combat zone movement patterns to change body compositions, and reduce combat and everyday related injuries.”
A Soldier improves his vertical agility and muscle coordination by jumping a series of hurdles during functional PT training at Stout Gym. Photo by Lacey Justinger.
Currently the demand for this type of PT training has surpassed the limitations of available staff, with sessions running multiple days a week at Stout Gym in both the mornings and afternoons.
“This circuit-training, muscle-fatigue workout is a change from the monotonous PT we usually do,” said Pfc. Robert Walsh, C Co., 4-6 IR. “We all work out every single day so you get bored doing the same thing over and over for months on end. This improves morale.”
The new $73,000 strength and conditioning center will be 10,000 square feet with 10 platforms, a full nautilus system, dumbbells and will be available for functional circuit training or combatives. Staff will create a new circuit for morning PT and it will be available for individuals or platoons all through out the day. Ideally, platoons or companies work the best through functional circuit because Soldiers have motivation and guidance throughout their workout.
“This is the future training of the Army; functional training to reduce injuries and produce Soldiers more physically capable to do the job required,” said Briggs.
During the functional circuit raining, Soldiers worked their whole body. They worked each muscle group five separate times but never repeated the same station or exercise twice.
Soldiers improve their core strength while working their triceps and biceps during their morning PT involving functional circuit training. Photo by Lacey Justinger.
“This forces Soldiers to do things they are not normally accustomed to doing and at the same time it builds muscles necessary for the work that we do,” said Trujillo. “It builds motivation and excitement while increasing physical fitness, balance, coordination and strength.”
Briggs designed the multiple circuits specifically for the armor mission occupation specialty. Soldiers who work with shells and projectiles primarily use their core muscle groups, legs and back.
Activites included medicine bounces of the wall, medicine ball passes, TRX straps for arms and legs, biceps, squats, side-to-side lunges, plymetrics, walking dumbbells, press and squats, agility squats, sprints, jumping boxes and running laps.
“The difference between Soldiers and professional athletes is that Soldiers are carrying 120 pounds on their back where an athlete is not,” Briggs said. “They both go through the same movement patterns.”
The functional training focused on improving strength, conditioning and agility. It required Soldiers to train three dimensionally with movements patterns focused laterally, up and down, backward and forward.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the future,” Briggs said. “The way the Army needs to move; into functional training. It will reduce injuries and makes Soldiers faster, stronger and bigger tactical athletes.”