Compulsory
fitness training — how about it Navy?
Re
‘Navy losing battle of the bulge’ (letters, Sept 26):
You would not be surprised by the findings of Helen Carter, looking
around the workplace, on any base or fleet unit.
The Navy has a few problems, one being the sub-standard fitness
test and the frequency that it is held. The second is the threat
of not being promoted if a fitness test is failed.
While there is a threat the actual reality of it being carried
out is nil.
POATV
William McConnell
CI Det, 817 Squadron.
The
letter by LEUT James Crosby (September 26) on how naval personnel
fitness standards are at an all time unhealthy level mentioned
Army standards.
A suggestion was that maybe we should be looking at how they achieve
their high levels.
I worked at the Army’s aviation base in Queensland for 12
months and I can easily tell you how they achieve these results.
Physical training (PT) and all other aspects of sport are compulsory
activity and everyone is encouraged to participate.
We had one hour of morning PT twice a week and afternoon PT once.
There was also Wednesday afternoon departmental and representative
sport.
A survey by the gymnasium showed that more than 50 per cent of
personnel did no form of exercise outside of work hours.
I am sorry James, but as long as our commanding officers feel
that a sailor’s body fat percentage does not affect his work
performance, and attendance at sport and PT during working hours
as a burden on their resources, the Navy’s levels of physical
health will always be of a lower standard than the Army.
Nick
Sverdloff,
Ex-CPOATV, Brisbane.
In
reply to LEUT James Crosby about Naval personnel being obese and
not at the same fitness level as the Army (letters Sept 26), maybe
the Navy should introduce compulsory fitness training during working
hours as the Army does.
Thirty minutes of sport every Tuesday and Thursday morning does
not constitute fitness training. For a start it is not compulsory.
Personnel would be more inclined to participate in fitness training
if it was conducted in Navy time and not their own.
I understand that people have an obligation to maintain a certain
standard of personal fitness, but by having time specifically
allocated for fitness training I think the Navy would see a remarkable
improvement in fitness levels/BMI (Body Mass Index) and also in
teamwork.
LS Paul Savage,
HMAS Cairns.
