Developmental Model for Prospective Male and Female US Air Force Special Warfare Candidates—Part II: Training Program Management
by John Mata, MS, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F, RSCC, Zach Kinninger, MEd, CSCS, and Nicholas DiMarco, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F
TSAC Report
December 2023
Vol 70, Issue 3
This article will focus on the management of the physical training process of US Air Force Special Warfare candidates, with relevant information geared toward the specific demands seen within the first phases of a Special Warfare Operator’s development.
Introduction
In the initial installment of this article series, the authors provided a brief exploration of previous literature relevant to the preparatory training of both men and women hopeful to enter the United States Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) pipeline, which included comparisons of historical aerobic and strength/power sport performances, training outcomes during other military programs of initial entry, and physiological basis for the recommendations contained within this article (13). Part II will focus on management of that training process, including providing suggested training volumes, frequencies, and intensities intended to meet the demands to be encountered within the first phases of a Special Warfare Operator’s development as well as a method to identify the length of introductory program duration based on absolute and relative performance in relation to entry requirements and known sources of injury risk.
Pre-enlistment physical training for those hopeful to be accepted into the formal AFSPECWAR training program should include a substantial amount of physical preparation directed toward the mastery of load carriage in the form of high frequency ground impacts including extensive and intensive plyometrics as well as traditional loaded marches. The manipulation of heavy objects as a skill should be included supplementary to training intended to increase the probability of passing the Physical Skills and Stamina Test Physical Abilities Stamina Test (PAST) (now referred to as Initial Fitness Test [IFT]), which includes “traditional” preparatory methods such as high-volume running, bodyweight calisthenics, resistance training, and swimming. In keeping with many of the “Ten Pillars for Successful Long-Term Athletic Development” highlighted in the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) position statement, developmental programs should aim to reduce or mitigate the risk of injury to ensure ongoing participation and continued physical development, as well as provide multiple modes of exercise to training to enhance health and specific skill-related fitness with systematic progression principles (11).
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
References
- Ansdell, P, Thomas, K, Hicks, K, Hunter, S, Howatson, G, and Goodall, S. Physiological sex differences affect the integrative response to exercise: Acute and chronic implications. Experimental Physiology 105(12): 2007-2021, 2021.
- Beaupré, G, Orr, T, and Carter, D. An approach for timedependent bone modeling and remodeling—Theoretical development. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 8(5): 651-661, 1990.
- Butler, C, Haydu, L, Bryant, J, Mata, J, Tchandja, J, Hogan, K, and Hando, B. Musculoskeletal injuries during U.S. Air Force Special Warfare training assessment and selection, FY 2019–2021. Medical Surveillance Monthly Report 29(8): 2-6, 2022.
- Chmielewski, T, Myer, G, Kauffman, D, and Tillman, S. Plyometric exercise in the rehabilitation of athletes: Physiological responses and clinical application. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 36(5): 308-319, 2006.
- Godhe, M, Helge, T, Mattsson, C, Ekblom, Ö, and Ekblom, B. Physiological factors of importance for load carriage in experienced and inexperienced men and women. Military Medicine 185(7-8): e1168-e1174, 2020.
- Haff, G, and Triplett, N. (Eds.). Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th edition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2015.
- Knapik, JJ, Bullock, SH, Toney, E, Wells, JD, Hoedebecke, E, and Jones, BH. Influence of an injury reduction program on injury and fitness outcomes among soldiers. Injury Prevention 10(1): 37-42, 2004.
- Kubo, K, Ikebukuro, T, Yaeshima, K, Yata, H, Tsunoda, N, and Kanehisa, H. Effects of static and dynamic training on the stiffness and blood volume of tendon in vivo. Journal of Applied Physiology 106: 412-417, 2009.
- Kubo, K, Ikebukuro, T, Maki, A, Yata, H, and Tsunoda, N. Time course of changes in the human Achilles tendon properties and metabolism during training and detraining in vivo. European Journal of Applied Physiology 112(7): 2679-2691, 2012.
- Liu, D, Sartor, M, Nader, G, Gutmann, L, Treutelaar, M, Pistilli, E, et al. Skeletal muscle gene expression in response to resistance exercise: sex specific regulation. BioMed Central Genomics 11(1): 1-14, 2010.
- Lloyd, R, Hind, K, Parr, B, Davies, S, and Cooke, C. The extra load index as a method for comparing the relative economy of load carriage systems. Ergonomics 53(12): 1500-1504, 2010.
- Mata, JD, and Heydu, LE. Developmental model for prospective male and female US Air Force Special Warfare candidates: Part I – Background. TSAC Report 68: 12-17, 2023.
- Nose-Ogura, S, Yoshino, O, Dohi, M, Kigawa, M, Harada, M, Kawahara, T, et al. Low bone mineral density in elite female athletes with a history of secondary amenorrhea in their teens. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 30(3): 245-250, 2020.
- O’Leary, T, Wardle, S, Rawcliffe, A, Chapman, S, Mole, J, and Greeves, J. Understanding the musculoskeletal injury risk of women in combat: The effect of infantry training and sex on musculoskeletal injury incidence during British Army basic training. British Medical Journal of Military Health 0: 1-5, 2020.
- Pegrum, J, Crisp, T, and Padhiar, N. Diagnosis and management of bone stress injuries of the lower limb in athletes. British Medical Journal 344: e2511, 2012.
- Sakai, K, Hikosaka, O, and Nakamura, K. Emergence of rhythm during motor learning. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 8(12): 547-553, 2004.
- Schleip, R, Naylor, I, Ursu, D, Melzer, W, Zorn, A, Wilke, H, et al. Passive muscle stiffness may be influenced by active contractility of intramuscular connective tissue. Medical Hypotheses 66(1): 66-71, 2006.
- Shumway, J, and Johnson, A. Recovery strategies in Air Force Special Warfare training. TSAC Report 64: 12-16, 2022.
- Tenforde, A, Carlson, J, Sainani, K, Chang, A, Kim, J, Diaz, R, and Fredericson, M. Lower trabecular bone score and spine bone mineral density are associated with bone stress injuries and triad risk factors in collegiate athletes. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 13(9): 945-953, 2021.
- Tenforde, A, Parziale, A, Popp, K, and Ackerman, K. Low bone mineral density in male athletes is associated with bone stress injuries at anatomic sites with greater trabecular composition. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 46(1): 30-36, 2017.
- Turrina, A, Martínez-González, M, and Stecco, C. The muscular force transmission system: Role of the intramuscular connective tissue. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 17(1): 95-102, 2013.
- Westh, E, Kongsgaard, M, Bojsen-Moller, J, Aagaard, P, Hansen, M, Kjaer, M, and Magnusson, S. Effect of habitual exercise on the structural and mechanical properties of human tendon, in vivo, in men and women. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 18(1): 23-30, 2008.
- Wymbs, N, and Grafton, S. The human motor system supports sequence-specific representations over multiple training-dependent timescales. Cerebral Cortex 25(11): 4213-4225, 2015.
