Military Physical Fitness 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'periodization' mean in the context of military physical training programs?
- Training at the same intensity every day year-round
- Systematically varying training volume and intensity over time to optimize performance (Correct answer)
- Only training during deployment cycles
- Alternating between running and swimming each day
Correct answer: Systematically varying training volume and intensity over time to optimize performance
Periodization is the systematic planning of training by varying volume and intensity across cycles to maximize performance and prevent overtraining.
Question 2: Which condition results from drinking excessive plain water during prolonged physical activity, diluting blood sodium to dangerous levels?
- Dehydration
- Heat exhaustion
- Hyponatremia (Correct answer)
- Hypoglycemia
Correct answer: Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium is dangerously diluted by excessive plain water intake, and can cause confusion, seizures, or death.
Question 3: In the ACFT, the Leg Tuck event was replaced by which alternative event?
- Plank (Correct answer)
- Sit-up
- Flutter kick
- V-up
Correct answer: Plank
The Army replaced the Leg Tuck with the Plank as the core endurance event on the ACFT after data showed it was more equitable across demographics.
Question 4: What is the primary risk factor for overuse injuries such as stress fractures during military training?
- Too much protein in the diet
- Rapid increases in training volume or intensity (Correct answer)
- Training in hot weather only
- Using free weights instead of machines
Correct answer: Rapid increases in training volume or intensity
Rapidly increasing training volume or intensity (violating the 10% weekly increase rule) is the leading cause of overuse injuries like stress fractures.
Question 5: Which branch of the U.S. military requires candidates to complete a Combat Fitness Test (CFT) that includes an 880-yard sprint with ammo cans?
- Army
- Air Force
- Marine Corps (Correct answer)
- Navy
Correct answer: Marine Corps
The Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT) includes an 880-yard maneuver-under-fire course that incorporates ammo-can lifts and carries.
Question 6: What physiological adaptation explains why trained soldiers recover faster between high-intensity bouts compared to untrained individuals?
- Higher resting heart rate
- Greater cardiac stroke volume and faster lactate clearance (Correct answer)
- Lower muscle fiber density
- Reduced lung capacity
Correct answer: Greater cardiac stroke volume and faster lactate clearance
Training increases cardiac stroke volume and improves the muscles' ability to clear lactate, enabling faster recovery between efforts.
Question 7: A soldier is found unresponsive after physical training in extreme heat with hot, dry skin and a temperature of 106°F. What is the IMMEDIATE priority?
- Administer oral sports drink
- Begin aggressive whole-body cooling immediately (Correct answer)
- Give 800 mg ibuprofen
- Walk the soldier around slowly
Correct answer: Begin aggressive whole-body cooling immediately
Heat stroke with altered consciousness and hot, dry skin requires immediate aggressive cooling (ice water immersion or cold packs to neck/armpits/groin) while awaiting emergency care.
Military Physical Fitness 5
What does the term 'periodization' mean in the context of military physical training programs?