An Analysis of Baseline Navy Health and Physical Readiness Data from Local Shore Facilities.

Abstract : In October 1982, the Navy promulgated OPNAVINST 6110.1B which established the Health and Physical Readiness Program. This program included an annual physical fitness test with a series of graded physical performance standards. In order to evaluate the impact of this program, baseline physical readiness data were collected on a sample of 6,182 Navy personnel prior to program implementation. Required physical readiness measures included 1.5-Mile Run, Sit-ups, Sit-reach, and Percent Body Fat. Although demographic factors, such as age and/or sex, were significantly related to performance, the magnitude of effect was relatively small. The distributions of classification ratings were symmetrical for the 1.5-Mile Run and the Sit-ups tests and were negatively skewed (mode = Outstanding) for the Sit-Reach and the Percent Body Fat tests. A total of 22% of the sample failed to meet the minimum overall classification rating which is set equivalent to the lowest individual test classification. Inadequate performance in the Percent Body fat and the 1.5-Mile Run tests contributed substantially to the overall failure rate. Further research is needed to determine the relationships between these physical readiness test scores and organizationally relevant outcomes (e.g., health, performance, retention) and to evaluate the impact of various program interventions.

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