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Show America In Action k r PHYSICAL TRAINING New trails are being blazed to reach the army air forces technical training command's goal of physical physi-cal fitness for every man. The physical training program has been worked out with the knowledge that each station has its special problems and special facilities. However, the over-all program is uniform, and the schedule as outlined out-lined by Lieut. Col. C. L. Brownell, director of the technical training command's physical training program, pro-gram, follows: (1) First hour 25 minutes of conditioning con-ditioning exercises; and 35 minutes of road work, running and obstacle course activities. (2) Second hour 10 minutes of warm-up drills; and 50 minutes of games, sports, and athletics (compulsory). (com-pulsory). Where aquatic facilities are available, these are used to supplement sup-plement games, sports and athletics. When a" soldier qualifies for study in one of the technical training command's com-mand's schools and leaves the basic training center, his physical training program continues but is reduced to one hour, six days a week. The program at the technical training command's schools calls for more strenuous games and sports. Most of the schools have obstacle courses which help develop speed, muscular , endurance, strength, co-ordination and aggressiveness. aggres-siveness. The obstacle course is laid out over a stretch of terrain 175 yards long by 50 yards wide. Fifteen men may compete at one time. The standard obstacle course consists of: brush hurdle, 7-foot, 6-inch wall, 8-foot 8-foot trench, rope climb, low bars for going under and over, and inclined ladder and jump. Emphasis is placed on rough and tumble sports among the younger men and those physically fit to stand up to the rigors of combat activities. activi-ties. For example, at Chanute Field, 111., "Heck" Kenney, former wrestling wres-tling coach at the University of Illinois, Illi-nois, instructs classes in jujitsu as well as wrestling. One of the latest features of the physical training program is the regular measurement test by which instructors can gauge the benefits of conditioning to the individual soldier. sol-dier. Improvement in cardio-respira-tory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, power, agility, speed and body co-ordination are systematically syste-matically checked. Special classes are organized for soldiers who do not make satisfactory progress in regular games and exercises. Released by Western Newspaper Union. |