TSAC for Military Personnel
Introduction
The Tactical Strength and Conditioning (TSAC) program’s primary purpose is to develop operational fitness for military personnel. When developing a comprehensive strength and conditioning program, operators must consider the physical demands of operational related activities. Throughout history, warriors and soldiers physically trained by performing various strength and conditioning exercises. Eventually this had evolved into athletic events, thus the first athletes were soldiers. Today our operators have evolved into tactical athletes.
When preparing for competition, athletes dedicate many long hard hours to physically preparation. Most successful athletes commit their mind, body, and spirit to the task. This level of commitment includes practicing sport skills, improving strength, conditioning, nutrition, and wellness.
Typically, the tactical athlete devotes time to improving operational skill without much focus on improving operational strength, conditioning, and nutrition. The NSCA’s Tactical Strength and Conditioning program addresses these needs.
By training the operators in the same fashion as professional athletes, the TSAC program offers the same expertise in developing the tactical athlete.
Who is the Tactical Athlete?
The tactical athlete is any operator or soldier who engages in combat. These operators require high levels of strength, speed, power, and agility. They not only need to be aerobically fit but also anaerobically fit to handle the rigors of combat.
Strength
Strength is required to perform operational tasks. Long range patrols require local muscle endurance to avoid fatigue. Strength is the foundation for all the components of the tactical athlete. Strength can be developed through various types of periodized resistance training programs. Methods used should mimic the tasks or goals of the tactical athlete.
Speed
Nearly every operator requires fast movements of either the arms or legs. In most case the operator will be required to accelerate and decelerate during an operation.
Power
Operators will most likely engage in some physical conflict whether it is breaching on entry or hand-to-hand combat. Success will be determined by how much power an operator has and how efficiently it is utilized.
Agility
In most operational situations, the ability to change direction and accelerate/decelerate is more important than achieving or maintaining a high velocity. This agility requires rapid force development and high power output, as well as the ability to efficiently couple eccentric and concentric actions in ballistic movements.
TSAC Programs
Facilitator Course
The Facilitator Course is open to military personnel who are responsible for their unit’s physical fitness. This course will provide the facilitator with basic strength and conditioning concepts that will prepare the attendee to implement strength and conditioning programs provided to the by the NSCA-TSAC Coaches.
Each Facilitator will be given a user name and password to access the member’s only TSAC web page where they will be guided by a NSCA Certified TSAC Coach.
For more information contact:
Jason Dudley, MS, CSCS, RSCC, USAW
1885 Bob Johnson Drive
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
1-800-815-6826 ext. 121
TSAC@nsca-lift.org


