Relationship between the indicators of physical and combat training in paratrooper cadets

Abstract

Modern combat activity of servicemen of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine takes place in extreme conditions and is characterized by diversity, tension and specificity, significant physical loads, which leads to high requirements for the physical readiness of servicemen, in particular for their versatility – readiness to act in any conditions, environment, time of day. The aim of the article is to investigate the relationship between indicators of physical and combat training in paratrooper cadets. The study was conducted at the Military Academy (Odesa) at the Airborne Assault Troops Specialist Training Faculty in 2020- 2021. 256 male cadets took part in the study. Two groups were formed: Group No. 1 (n=40), whose cadets worked in the Crossfit classes of the academy during their studies, and Group No. 2 (n=216), whose cadets practiced according to the current system of physical training at the academy and did not additionally attend none of the sports classes. The cadets’ physical fitness was assessed by the results of 100 m run, pull-ups, overcoming an obstacle course, 3 km run. The standards of combat training included: landing of personnel in a helicopter; movement on the battlefield; occupying a trench, firing position; delivery of ammunition under enemy fire; packing combat kit into combat vehicles and others. A high level of correlation between the indicators of physical training of cadets of group No. 1, formed in the process of Crossfit classes, and the results of their compliance with combat training standards was revealed. This allows us to assert the effectiveness of Crossfit classes in improving the indicators of military-professional (combat) activity of paratrooper cadets.