The Royal Military College – Duntroon. Physical Conditioning Optimisation Review Project. RMC-D Fitness Profile Review 1999-2008. Supplemental Report: The Physical Conditioning Assessment System Framework

Executive Summary [Extract]
The Physical Conditioning Optimisation Review (PCOR) Fitness Profile Review (1999 – 2008), released in Sep 08, identified several opportunities for improvement regarding the current conditioning assessment system. A key recommendation was to improve the means of formally auditing the physical conditioning continuum, a process not currently in place. An additional opportunity identified was an enhanced and formalised application of assessment data to identify injury potential. While fitness assessment data is currently utilised to identify injury potential in cadets undergoing training, this process is applied informally and is dependent on staff corporate knowledge.

In developing the RMC Physical Conditioning Assessment Framework (PCAF) proposal, several essential requirements were identified. Firstly, the proposed PCAF needed to utilise assessment tools that meet with academically acknowledged fitness assessment principles, these include; reliability, validity and specificity. Secondly, the proposed PCAF had to comply with current Army
fitness assessment policies as well as align with the RMC physical conditioning continuum and training program.

The proposed PCAF draws together a collection of in-use and additional physical conditioning assessments in a manner that allows effective and expanded use of the current RMC physical conditioning system. While the Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA), Army swimming proficiency assessment, and Basic Fitness Assessment (BFA) remain part of the framework, two additional assessments are included; the RMC-Basic (RMC-B), and the RMC-Combat (RMC-C).