Army PRT Phases - Army PRT

Commanders often grapple with the task of training soldiers of varying physical abilities.

The aim is to strike a balance: avoiding mundane routines for the well-fit while not overburdening the less fit, thereby minimizing injury risk.
This chapter provides a roadmap to commanders, enabling them to ensure rigorous yet safe Physical Readiness Training (PRT), in line with the guidelines laid out in Chapters 5 and 6.

PHASES (the Four PRT Phases)

Initial Conditioning Phase

Purpose: Serve as a foundation for potential Soldiers to grasp and adapt to Army PRT.
Audience: Encompasses individuals considering the Army, such as those in the Army’s Future Soldier Program and the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Training Window: This phase is undertaken pre-enlistment or pre-commissioning.

Toughening Phase

Purpose: Focuses on establishing core fitness and essential movement techniques.
Training Details:
- Activities maintain rigorous standards ensuring gradual toughening of bones, muscles, and connective tissues.
- Soldiers hone skills in managing their own body weight.
- Emphasizes key Soldier tasks like jumping, landing, climbing, lunging, bending, reaching, and lifting.
Training Window: Takes place during IMT, basic combat training (BCT), one station unit training (OSUT) (red/white/blue phases), and Basic Officer Leader Course A (BOLC A).
End Goal: Equip Soldiers to transition to the sustaining phase.

Sustaining Phase

Purpose: To escalate the levels of physical readiness in line with the demands of the duty position and C- or D-METL.

Reconditioning

Purpose: To aid Soldiers in regaining their physical prowess, allowing them a smooth transition back into the toughening or sustaining phase.
Further Details: Comprehensive information on this can be found in Chapter 6.

Core Components of PRT Training

Types of Training:
- On-ground
- Off-ground
- Combatives
Fundamental Elements:
- Strength
- Endurance
- Mobility
Key Principles:
- Precision
- Progression
- Integration

1. Training Types:

On-ground: These exercises focus on tasks performed on stable ground, emphasizing basic movements and physical skills.
Off-ground: This refers to activities conducted off the earth’s surface, which may include climbing, jumping, or any maneuver not grounded.
Combatives: This involves hand-to-hand combat training, teaching soldiers to defend themselves without weapons.

2. Fundamental Elements:

Strength: It’s not just about muscles but about enhancing a soldier’s ability to exert force and sustain muscular activity.
Endurance: This ensures soldiers can perform tasks over prolonged periods, building stamina.
Mobility: Beyond just moving, this component focuses on agility, flexibility, and balance, ensuring soldiers can move with ease in varied terrains and situations.

3. Key Principles:

Precision: This principle stresses the importance of accurate and careful movements to avoid injuries and achieve the desired outcome.
Progression: It emphasizes a gradual increase in intensity, ensuring that soldiers improve their skills and physical abilities without undue risk.
Integration: This is about harmonizing different training elements, ensuring soldiers are well-rounded and prepared in every aspect of physical readiness.

INITIAL CONDITIONING PHASE

Objective:

To provide a secure foundation for individuals contemplating a career in the Army.

Target Audience:

Future Soldiers: Those enrolled in the Army’s Future Soldier Program.
ROTC Cadets: Students in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Training Timing:

Before making the formal commitment of enlistment or pre-commissioning.

Key Features:

Safety First: Ensures that the individual is introduced to the rigors of military life in a gradual and safe manner.
Building Stamina: The main goal is to provide a foundational level of fitness, equipping them with the basic physical requirements expected of a Soldier.

TOUGHENING PHASE

Objective:

Focuses on bolstering foundational fitness and enhancing core movement skills, ensuring the Soldier’s body is conditioned to withstand the physical demands of military tasks.

Training Elements:

Diverse Activities: Incorporates a myriad of exercises with specific execution standards.
Strengthening the Core: Emphasis on fortifying bones, muscles, and connective tissues. The approach is incremental to ensure resilience over time.
Body Weight Mastery: Soldiers gradually build proficiency in handling their body weight, a crucial skill in many military operations.
Skill Development: Activities in this phase focus on crucial Soldier tasks, such as:
- Jumping and landing.
- Climbing.
- Lunging.
- Bending, reaching, and lifting.

Training Improvement:

There’s a clear progression in activities ensuring continual physical readiness enhancement.

When & Where:

During IMT: Integral part of Initial Military Training.
Basic Combat Training (BCT): Fundamental phase for recruits.
One Station Unit Training (OSUT): Specifically, during its red, white, and blue phases.
Basic Officer Leader Course A (BOLC A): For officer candidates.
Outcome: Soldiers, upon completion, are well-prepared and conditioned to transition to the more intensive sustaining phase.

SUSTAINING PHASE

Overview:

The sustaining phase is built on maintaining and progressing the physical capabilities of Soldiers.
It is designed to ensure Soldiers are prepared for the dynamic demands they might encounter in their respective duty positions and the challenges inherent in the unit’s C- or D-METL.

Core Objectives:

Physical Development: Progressively challenging exercises are introduced to ensure that Soldiers continue to build on their physical prowess.
Maintain High Physical Readiness: Ensuring Soldiers are always at a state of readiness to meet any task head-on, especially those outlined in ARFORGEN. For a comprehensive understanding of ARFORGEN, refer to AR 350-1.

Advanced Physical Activities:

Advanced calisthenics.
Military movement.
Kettlebell exercises.
CLs with incremental resistance.

Endurance and Mobility Activities:

Increased foot marching.
Enhanced speed running.
Extended sustained running.

Specialized Training Activities:

Individual movement techniques.
Casualty carries.
Obstacle courses.
Combatives.

These specialized activities are specifically integrated into PRT sessions as they align closely with the unit’s mission and C- or D-METL.

RECONDITIONING

Objective:

The overarching goal of reconditioning is to rehabilitate Soldiers, facilitating their safe re-entry into either the toughening or sustaining phases of training.
This ensures that Soldiers can regain and exceed their former levels of physical fitness.

When is Reconditioning Needed?:

Post Injury/Illness Rehabilitation: Following recovery, Soldiers may need to rebuild their physical stamina and strength.
Extended Deployment: Lengthy deployments might result in a reduction in regular training, leading to a decrease in physical readiness.
Other Causes: Field training, block leave, or any prolonged absence from regular PRT can warrant a phase of reconditioning.
The Reconditioning Process:
Assessment: Determine the current physical state of the Soldier.
Reconditioning Regime: Implement a structured training program tailored to the Soldier’s needs. For a detailed insight, reference Chapter 6, which focuses on Special Conditioning Programs.
Transition: Once Soldiers fulfill the criteria for transitioning back into unit training, they are reintegrated into either the toughening or sustaining phases.

Note: Units typically run simultaneous sessions of reconditioning alongside the toughening or sustaining phases to cater to all Soldiers’ needs.

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George N.

George N. is the founder of ArmyPRT.com. While he never actually served in the United States Army, he has a passion for writing about military-related topics.

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.