An ergonomic assessment of British Army Infantry career training courses to identify opportunities for evidence-based interventions to enhance role-related physical fitness

Maroni, T. D., Myers, S. D., Draper, J., Ashdown, K., Walker, F. S., Alexander, B. and Blacker, S. D. (2025) An ergonomic assessment of British Army Infantry career training courses to identify opportunities for evidence-based interventions to enhance role-related physical fitness. Ergonomics. pp. 1-16. ISSN 0014-0139

[thumbnail of This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in  Ergonomics on 31 January 2025 available online: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2456538] Text (This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 31 January 2025 available online: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2456538)
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Abstract

An ergonomic assessment was conducted to quantify the activities and physical demands during the British Army’s 8-week Platoon Sergeant and Section Commander Battle Courses (PSBC, SCBC). Twenty PSBC and 18 SCBC male infantry soldiers volunteered. Body Mass (BM) was measured pre- and post-course, with course physical activity levels (PAL), energy expenditure (EE) and sleep profiles quantified using tri-axial accelerometery. The courses were predominately field-based, involving slow and rapid load carriage tasks, digging and moving casualties. Average daily EE (SCBC = 4020 ± 599 vs. PSBC = 3876 ± 525 kcal.day−1; p>0.05) and BM decreases were similar (SCBC = −3.9 ± 2.9 vs. PSBC = −2.0 ± 2.7 kg; p>0.05). Daily PAL was higher for SCBC than PSBC (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 2.0 ± 0.3, p=0.041), likely due to greater moderate-vigorous activity levels (p=0.003). Daily sleep durations were variable, but similar across courses (≈5.1 hr.day−1; p>0.05). These data confirm these courses are arduous and can be used to inform course-specific physical screening tests and training to increase course success.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: military performance, job-tasks, physical training, energy expenditure, arduous courses
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV711 Coaching
Q Science > QP Physiology
U Military Science > U Military Science (General)
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Occupational Performance
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Depositing User: Stephen Myers
Date Deposited: 05 Feb 2025 11:56
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2025 11:56
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/7952

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