Physical Fitness Studies in Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officers.

Abstract : Eighteen Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy students were studied before and after a six-week training program. Various biochemical aspects (serum pyruvate, serum enzymes, red blood cell count, 2,3 diphosphoglycerate), physiologic parameters (systolic intervals, maximal oxygen uptake, heart rates), and the U. S. Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (USMC PFT) were assessed on all men on several occasions. The USMC PFT was found to correlate well with some sophisticated tests of physical fitness, such as maximal oxygen uptake. Improvement of physical fitness and endurance capacity was documented by increase in maximal oxygen uptake, PFT scores, decrease in heart rate, time for three-mile run, and systolic time intervals. Biochemical parameters in this study did not serve as a good predictor of physical fitness. (Author)