Page 68 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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THE CONDITIONING SPECTRUM

Maj (MAA) PW Sanderson RAPTC

3rd

(United

Kingdom)

Division

T
he physical requirements of conlict knowledge and conidence to invigorate
are diverse and varied and getting and motivate those who do not attend

to the start line with a suitable mandatory or leisure-time physical
level of physical conditioning to meet activity. By engagement with these ‘at
the changing requirements remains a risk’ populations we may have a general
challenge, fraught and mediated by effect on those most in need our help.

some variables that remain outside Apart from the obvious conditioning
personal control. Whilst deployability gains this engagement could reduce
is the current issue, sustainability will injury, enhance operational capacity and
be exponentially harder to achieve, support health and vocational itness.

and this is the challenge. From above, We are very good at getting the it, itter
deployability igures will be investigated and while instances of good practise are
and massaged through dedicated appearing we are less good at getting
manning procedures, however, this the un-it, it.
process will not put ‘more boots on

the ground’. Moreover it will not offer The future may afford a breathing space
a co-aligned process to ensure that the for many as we disengage from the
same boots can stay on the ground. planned operational process. In the
It is only a focus and investment in contingency era 25% of the Army will

conditioning that will afford deployability. be tied to a 3 year cycle cumulating
And if conditioning is not suitable, in 12 months of adaptive and reactive
progressive and enduring, sustainability tasks. Clearly readiness will be central
will not be achieved and capability will to success in both areas, and physical

be the fatality.
readiness is a central component of
the readiness narrative. Conditioning
So, rather than appraise you of my irst to support these adaptive and reactive
three months in the post of 3UKXX SO2 cycles is (like balance) predicated on a

PD. I place a challenge to you all – engage stable base of support. To be effective
with all individuals in the conditioning this conditioning base needs to be a
spectrum and more importantly engage constant in soldier’s life, to support
most with those that most need your sustainability this process needs to be
expertise. The conditioning spectrum is enduring.

broad and some in the Army lack even
the basic levels of conditioning that are It is time to engage in the hard battles
commensurate with chronic disease risk (getting the un-it, it) as the easy one
reduction; these are the individuals that are winning themselves (getting the it,

need your help most. Your engagement itter).
needs to be supported with the