Load Carriage – Programming for Special Operations Forces
by Taylor Givens, TSAC-F and Nicholas Martinez
TSAC Report
April 2023
Vol 67, Issue 5
This narrative review will focus on the research related to tactical load carriage and on a program recommendation to maximize strength and endurance adaptations in Special Operations Forces (SOF).
Introduction
Special Operations Forces (SOF) require an advanced level of physical fitness to accomplish occupational tasks. When SOF are not in hostile combat zones, they are training various skills to increase operational readiness and task efficiency. Typical tasks associated with SOF training are rucking, marksmanship, obstacle courses, land/sea travel in gear, movement under fire, casualty drag, explosive movements (e.g., jumping, sprinting, lifting, throwing), and weapons/ammunition transferring (3,11). Most, if not all, of these tasks require the use of a rucksack or load carrying on the torso. These loads can range from 22 – 55 kg with the heavier loads being more prevalent (12,13). Research suggests that adding any amount of weight substantially decreases performance by an average of 1% per 1 kg and increases the likelihood of injury with loads 26 – 50% bodyweight (2,8,9,13,16).
Research analyzing maneuverability tasks with 16 kg or more of added load demonstrated notable decreases in agility and power, with a 13 – 27% decline in vertical jump scores compared to no load (9). During a 12-month deployment, 45% of United States combat forces suffered from a musculoskeletal injury related to load carriage and external variables (e.g., obstacles, terrain, occupational tasks) (8,13). Load carriage reduced endurance time and increased the energy expenditure of walking/running by 5 – 6% with altered gate kinematics and biomechanical responses (1,13). Loads carried on the extremities (e.g., boots, rifle) increases energy expenditure by an additional 7 – 10%/kg of weight added (1). There is no current “standard” for SOF fitness training as it applies to load carriage, which may be due to the varying missions, individual roles, and physiological differences. Although there are mixed recommendations on concurrent resistance and endurance training, research shows that it is the most effective method to optimize physical readiness in SOF (5,11,18). Further reinforcing resistance training with plyometrics and agility performance in task-simulated movement patterns could increase combat readiness (5). Regular exposure to complex occupational tasks with a range of loads could also improve performance (3). Therefore, this narrative review will focus on the research related to tactical load carriage and on a program recommendation to maximize strength and endurance adaptations in SOF.
This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report
Related Reading
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