US Army Incorporates Pilates into Basic Training

In a recent New York Times article, James Dao covered fitness-related changes to Army basic training at Fort Jackson, SC.

Due to poor eating habits, video games, and fewer PE classes, America's youth is gaining weight. The top reason the US Army rejects potential recruits is excessive weight. Still, overweight and unfit new recruits remain a pressing issue for the Army, as more recruits failed fit tests and were injured during basic training.

As a result, the Army has instituted a new basic training fitness manual and changes to the mess hall at Fort Jackson.

 Photo by Ann McQuary

The new training is more closely related to the skills required of soldiers in the field and incorporates exercises that would be familiar to Pilates and Yoga devotees to strengthen the core and back.

In the mess hall, there are more leafy greens, a color-coded system to encourage recruits to eat healthier foods, and soda has been replaced with milk.

There is even talk about changing the Army fit test to exclude sit ups and include other types of exercises.

As one platoon leader said, “It’s more whole body. “No one who has done this routine says we’ve made it easier.”