Pilot Analysis Of Strength And Power In Candidates For Officer Candidate School At A Regional USMC Office

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the oldest branch of the US military that has a variety of functions, including as an expeditionary unit that is sent out first to a variety of combat zones and crisis areas. Job tasks often require strength and power, like lifting and carrying repair equipment for trucks and tanks and loading a variety of rounds that weigh anywhere from ~16-61 kg (1). In an attempt to ensure all active and on-duty Marines have the appropriate physical fitness needed for combat, the USMC created the Physical Fitness Test (1) (PFT), which includes a maximum pull-up test, timed plank, and a 3-mile run. The PFT is also used as the barrier to entry into Officer Candidate School (OCS) (3). These events in the PFT may not measure strength and power. Indeed, strength and power are not commonly measured in USMC candidates before arrival at OCS or basic training. Establishing strength and power measures in candidates while they are training at regional offices may help guide training staff and candidates on how to prepare before they arrive for OCS. PURPOSE: To analyze strength and power measurements in male and female USMC candidates from a regional USMC office preparing for OCS. METHODS: Sixteen USMC candidates (11 men, 5 women) from one regional office training to be selected for OCS and the PFT volunteered for this study. Candidates participated in one testing session to measure strength (hand grip, leg/back dynamometer) and power (vertical jump [VJ], ], standing broad jump [SBJ] ,2-kg medicine ball throw [MBT]). Peak power was also calculated from VJ height. Independent t-tests (p < 0.05) were run on the strength and power measurements to compare the male and female candidates. Partial correlations controlling for sex (p < 0.05) were used to calculate relationships between strength and power measurements. RESULTS: Male candidates performed significantly better on all strength and power tests (p ≤ 0.02), except on the relative handgrip, compared to the female candidates. There were eight significant partial correlations between the strength and power measures The leg/back dynamometer had a significant relationship with VJ power (large relationship), MBT (moderate relationship), VJ (moderate relationship), VJ power relative (moderate relationship). The LBD relative had a significant relationship with the VJ (moderate relationship) and VJWR (moderate relationship). The hand grip had a significant relationship with the VJ power (moderate relationship). No other partial correlations were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Female candidates from this regional office may require more specific strength and power training before arriving for OCS than male candidates due to the gap in strength and power between the sexes. Notably, there were only two significant partial correlations within the candidate sample. This could mean that USMC candidates may need to train specifically for both strength and power and not just one of the attributes, since higher strength did not always correlate with higher power. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The pilot data provides insight on the typical strength and power measurements of candidates preparing for OCS at a regional USMC office. Although candidates may focus on training for the PFT when preparing with USMC regional office training staff, they should complete strength and power training as well as this will prepare them for future training and job demands. Female candidates in particular may need to develop these qualities. Strength and power may also need to be developed specifically in USMC candidates, as greater strength may not always translate to greater power.