The Royal Military College – Duntroon. Physical Conditioning Optimisation Review

Executive Summary [Extract]
The aim of the Physical Conditioning Optimisation Review (PCOR) was to review the physical conditioning continuum for Royal Military College of Duntroon (RMC-D) and make subsequent optimisation recommendations.
The physical conditioning program for the College is facing several challenges, and the review found that there was no long term conditioning continuum in place due to the reactive nature of the physical training (PT) programming: conflicting priorities, changing lesson allocations, unprogrammed PT, a need for Just-In-Time training and no formal PT lesson documentation being primary causes for this reactive nature. Thus, a means of applying the latest training philosophies along a structured periodised continuum with dedicated training sessions imbedded into the overall 18-month training plan was developed.
Following research and review of the latest conditioning concepts, the principles of physical training were merged with movement pattern training concepts (including functional and counter-functional training, synergy, balance and conditioning) to create a conditioning platform from which the College conditioning foci could be met. These conditioning foci (individual fitness and healthy lifestyle, military specific fitness, sports specific fitness, and remedial
training and rehabilitation) were subsequently structured along an 18-month training plan based on a modified, sports, periodisation framework.
Factors impacting on the practical implementation of the 18-month training plan were reviewed including: frequency, allocation and density of PT lessons, set PT lesson times, cadets on Temporary Medical Restriction (TMR) and out-of-barracks training. Also reviewed were the concepts of ability based training (ABT) and integration of Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Officer Tertiary Recruiting Scheme (OTRS) and Army Reserve (ARES) cadets into the conditioning continuum.