Military Column – July 2025
by Whitney Tramel, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F, and Mark Stephenson, MS, ATC, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D
TSAC Report
October 2025
Vol 78, Issue 1
This article highlights the need for recovery strategies to support both physical readiness and psychological resilience in military training.
Paywall block issue
This article is not configured properly for members or paid content.
isMemberOnly: {{isMemberOnly}} | isPaidContent: {{isPaidContent}}
spc: One or more parts of the product SPC is missing.
Read the full article
View the video
Login to view more
{{discountDesc}} Valid thru {{discountEnds}}
This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} is available with a NSCA membership
or can be purchased for {{prices}}
or can be purchased. Price range: {{prices}}
Price includes membership pricing and promotions
This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} can be purchased for {{prices}}
Price includes membership pricing and promotions
Purchase this {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}}. Price range: {{prices}}
Price range includes membership pricing and promotions
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
REFERENCES
- Acevedo, AM, Zeigler, Z, Campbell, SC, and Melton, B. Maximal aerobic capacity as a predictor of performance on ACFT total scores of ROTC cadets. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 55: 34, 2023.
- Andersen, J, Pitel, M, Weerasinghe, A, and Papazoglou, K. Highly realistic scenario based training simulates the psychophysiology of real world use of force encounters: Implications for improved police officer performance. Journal of Law Enforcement 5: 1-13, 2016.
- Crawford, DA, Drake, NB, Carper, MJ, DeBlauw, J, and Heinrich, KM. Are changes in physical work capacity induced by high-intensity functional training related to changes in associated physiologic measures? Sports 6: 26, 2018.
- Fortune, JM, Kelly, ÁM, Robertson, IH, and Hussey, J. An investigation into the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition and BDNF in young healthy males. Neuroscience Letters 704: 126-132, 2019.
- Kelley, DC, Siegel, E, and Wormwood, JB. Understanding police performance under stress: Insights from the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. Frontiers in Psychology 10: 1800, 2019.
- Lieberman, HR, Tharion, WJ, Shukitt-Hale, B, Speckman, KL, and Tulley, R. Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during US Navy SEAL training. Psychopharmacology 164: 250-261, 2002.
- May, RW, Hutchinson, M, Seibert, GS, Fincham, F, and Sanchez-Gonzalez, MA. Improving cognitive performance via high intensity interval aerobic exercise: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online 20: 141-147, 2017.
- McClung, JP, Martini, S, Murphy, NE, Montain, SJ, Margolis, LM, Thrane, I, et al. Effects of a 7-day military training exercise on inflammatory biomarkers, serum hepcidin, and iron status. Nutrition Journal 12: 1-4, 2013.
- Nindl, BC, Barnes, BR, Alemany, JA, Frykman, PN, Shippee, RL, and Friedl, KE. Physiological consequences of US Army Ranger training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 39: 1380-1387, 2007.
- Nindl, BC, Leone, CD, Tharion, WJ, Johnson, RF, Castellani, JW, Patton, JF, and Montain, SJ. Physical performance responses during 72 h of military operational stress. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 34: 1814-1822, 2002.
- Pawlak, R, Clasey, JL, Palmer, T, Symons, TB, and Abel, MG. The effect of a novel tactical training program on physical fitness and occupational performance in firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29: 578-588, 2015.
- Stephenson, MD, Schram, B, Canetti, EFD, and Orr, R. Effects of acute stress on psychophysiology in armed tactical occupations: A narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19: 1802, 2022.
- Szivak, TK, and Kraemer, WJ. Physiological readiness and resilience: pillars of military preparedness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29: S34-S39, 2015.
- Taylor, MK, Sausen, KP, Mujica-Parodi, LR, Potterat, EG, Yanagi, MA, and Kim, H. Neurophysiologic methods to measure stress during survival, evasion, resistance, and escape training. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 78: B224-B230, 2007.
- Tomes, C, Schram, B, and Orr, R. Field monitoring the effects of overnight shift work on specialist tactical police training with heart rate variability analysis. Sustainability 13: 7895, 2021.
- Tramel, W, Schram, B, Canetti, E, and Orr, R. An examination of subjective and objective measures of stress in tactical populations: A scoping review. Healthcare 11(18): 2515, 2023.
- Winters, JD, Heebner, NR, Johnson, AK, Poploski, KM, Royer, SD, Nagai, T, et al. Altered physical performance following advanced special operations tactical training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35: 1809-1816, 2021.
Learn about the benefits of NSCA Membership »
Available to:
Members only
Members only
Audience:
TSAC Facilitators
TSAC Facilitators
Keywords:
Exercise Research Cardiovascular conditioning Combat readiness Mental resilience endurance training High-intensity interval training Sport Science
Exercise Research Cardiovascular conditioning Combat readiness Mental resilience endurance training High-intensity interval training Sport Science
- Privacy Policy
- Your Privacy Choices
- Terms of Use
- Retraction and Correction Policy
- © 2025 National Strength and Conditioning Association