TRAINING FOR COMBAT

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

Varied, high-intensity routines build the finely-chiseled, ready-for-anything physiques of today’s elite warriors.

Modern combat is increasingly less scripted. Today’s troops aren’t lining up to trade musket fire or charging a hill against a seen enemy. The battle has evolved to feature short, kinetic bursts of activity and close-quarters engagement against flagless insurgents that embed themselves among civilian populations. As a result, warriors have added physical strength, agility and battle-closing stamina to the list of combat-requisite traits.

This is particularly true of elite soldiers, who are called upon for up-close-and-personal clashes with the enemy on a regular basis. On any particular mission, they could be called upon to nimbly ascend a set of stairs in full gear, sprint for cover or detain a larger, stronger combatant. As with weapons training and hand-to-hand defense, fitness is a vital part of a special forces soldier’s ability to perform effectively in combat. A former helicopter pilot and physical training instructor for the British Army, Steve Perrins, who now heads government and defense accounts for Cybex (www.cybexintl.com), shares some of his 23 years of experience working with and training elite soldiers.

Tell us about your military experience with the British Army. What was your level of fitness in your early years of service?

I completed 22 years of service in Army Aviation, providing support for Airborne Forces and UK Special Forces for the majority of my time, the last nine years as a combat Helicopter Pilot. Initially, my fitness was very average but within a year I was in great shape.

How did you transition to physical training instructor?

It was brutal course back then, with units only selecting the best from within to attend. I was 19, fit, strong and hungry to prove myself. For me, it was a natural transition that shaped my career.

What can the rest of us learn about the training habits of elite tactical athletes that can help us get bigger, stronger, faster and leaner?

Tactical athletes train with alarming regularity as part of their daily routine, regardless of how sore, battered, exhausted and blistered they usually are. They vary their routines with the same regularity which increases the body’s response to the training, their bodies never get the time to fully adjust to any one program. This variation ensures continued adaptation.