PRT stands for Physical Readiness Training. It was introduced in 2010 as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. Army’s physical training routine, particularly designed for environments like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) invented a wide variety of Army PRT drills, exercises, and routines directly related to military tasks and, of course, with the main emphasis on focus and discipline. You might be surprised that the discipline and mind control needed for such exercises for the battlefield can also be used when playing different strategic games, but this article will shed more light on it.
Understanding Army Physical Readiness Training
Focus and discipline are essential for success, whether you’re training your body or sharpening your mind. In physical training and mental challenges like strategy games, these traits determine how well you perform under pressure. Here are ten of the most popular Army PRT drills:
- High Jumper – focuses on leg strength and coordination.
- Push-Up – standard exercise for upper body strength.
- V-Up – targets core strength by lifting legs and torso simultaneously.
- Controlled Breathing Drills – helps manage stress and maintain focus under pressure.
- Mountain Climber – builds endurance and leg strength with rapid movement.
- Bend and Reach – improves flexibility and stretches the back and legs.
- Plank – requires mental focus to maintain proper form for extended periods.
- Yoga-Based Recovery Drills – they involve mindfulness and controlled movements.
- Battle Ropes – a tool for strength, endurance, and intense full-body training.
- Shuttle Sprint – enhances speed and agility with quick, short-distance sprints.
Discipline and mental fortitude are integral to Army PRT, but they can also be applied to games like blackjack, which requires a similar level of strategic thinking and concentration
Applying PRT Skills to Strategic Gambling Games
Not all games lend themselves to strategic gameplay, but blackjack stands out as a game where mental focus and discipline directly impact your success. Card counting, for example, is a strategy that requires sustained attention—much like maintaining form in endurance-based PRT drills.
Just as Army PRT drills build the ability to stay composed under physical stress, players must maintain focus while playing blackjack online, where staying disciplined in decision-making can significantly improve outcomes. Blackjack offers an opportunity to apply strategic thinking honed through rigorous PRT routines.
Emotional Control and Focus in Online Poker
Poker is another strategic game where the mental toughness developed in Army PRT is highly valuable. Controlled breathing drills can help poker players maintain a “poker face,” keeping emotions hidden from opponents. Maintaining focus for extended periods, even during difficult hands, is critical for success—just as endurance and mental resilience are in PRT.
Army PRT Techniques for Winning at Strategic PC Games
Popular strategic games like Age of Empires IV, Warhammer II, StarCraft II, and Civilization VI are only a few examples where you can use the skills you have learned from Army PRT drills. Setting goals and benchmarks is essential, especially when you are under attack or you have to back up. However, the perseverance and motivation you adopt from the mountain climber exercises will help you never give up and keep trying new strategies to push the enemy.
It is also very important to maintain mental and physical balance – a technique that is taught in many Army PRT drills, like controlled breathing drills. If you play Warhammer II or any other game from the Total War series, and the session lasts more than 3-4 hours, then you will know how to use breaks for exercise to maintain focus. The skill for continuous improvement and adaptation will also be helpful if you play with different heroes and map terrains.
Recap: Army PRT Can Help Players Excel in Strategy Games
Overall, Army training prepares soldiers to overcome setbacks, and gamers can also use the same mindset to deal with losses and perplexities in games. Building mental toughness is maybe the most important skill, and it involves a lot of focus and discipline to achieve success. Now you know more about the skills essential in both Army PRT and gaming.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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