A note on what Kyle Said....

Kyle, you were right ....

I am sure we all understand that what is a well laid out argument in ones mind, can occasionally come out slightly missing the point.

My last post was misconstrued as accusing the dead solders of being "un fit" or "not fit enough" and if that was my claim, it would of course be unfounded and un provable. 


I guess this was my point.

Fitness is directly proportional to your ability to survive trauma.

A "more fit" person with the same injuries as a "less fit" person has much better chance of survival. This person is also more likely to be able to remain at least some what combat effective.

Upon removable from immediate threat, "more fit" individuals heal and complete rehab programs more quickly then "less" fit individuals.

"More fit" soldiers have a measurably higher work capacity then "less fit" soldiers. They can move more of anything, move it faster and move it for a longer period of time. Thus we do more work then "Less Fit" soldiers (or get stuck doing more work than)

This means picking up the slack of, and literally circling back to pick up "less fit soldiers"  This is not limited to Pl. Runs. This is a reality of combat. When "More Fit" soldiers must do more work in a Combat Environment, they are exposed to more danger per unit of work completed simply due to exposure. Thus we are placed in relative danger by "less fit soldiers"  But Cam, that relative, do they really directly put us at risk?

Yes.


"Less Fit" soldiers may Survive combat, but they will have a much harder time Thriving in that environment for the simple fact that they will be to tired to. So you dash to cover, lay down effective covering fire, then your "less fit" Fire Team Partner waddles over to you gasping and weezing, delirious and then proceeds to not even be able to take a sight picture let alone apply marksmanship principles he fails to effectively cover you. You get shot. The "less fit" soldier is unable to rescue you, you die. Or they get injured on Patrol, and your patrol must retrace old its steps and encounters a fresh IED or ambush, and you die. Or they slow your unit and you fail to reach an objective on time or someone else dies.

And you know thats why being unfit in the army is a selfish act. Because their lack of fitness puts others at risk.

"Less Fit" soldiers are a direct threat to your units effectiveness and your  survival. You should be very very emotionally invested in this.



So although Fitness Alone cannot Guarantee your survival or success on the BattleField, NO SINGLE FACTOR THAT IS SO COMPLETELY WITHIN YOUR CONTROL CAN INCREASES YOUR CHANCES BOTH OF SUCCESS AND SURVIVAL.




Pick the people you covering you.

 Caveat! Anyone who is out there busting their ass trying to get more fit, regardless of their current level deserves nothing but praise. They will, in the long run be examples as what to do, and reach levels of fitness they never thought possible.