Anthropometrical and Physical Fitness Predictors of Operational Military Test Performance in Air Force Personnel

Authors

Raí Tripolone Silva, Postgraduate Program in Operational Human Performance, Air Force University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZILFollow
Fabio A D Campos, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Goiano, Ceres, Goiás, BRAZILFollow
Leandra Cristina Benetti Campos, Faculty of Health Sciences, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BRAZIL;Follow
Monica Y. Takito, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BRAZILFollow
Edison M. Miron, Air Force Academy, Pirassununga, São Paulo, BRAZILFollow
Idico L. Pellegrinotti, Faculty of Health Sciences, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BRAZIL;Follow
Emerson Franchini, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BRAZILFollow

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1028-1040, 2020. The objective of this study was to verify the relationships between the anthropometrical and physical fitness parameters (measured by the Physical Conditioning Assessment (PCA) of the Aeronautics Command), with the operational performance in the simulated military task performance (SMTP) performed by the infantry military of a Brazilian Air Force (BAF) unit. These evaluations were performed on two distinct days, interspersed by 48h, with PCA on the first day and the SMTP in the second. The distribution of the dependent variable was not normal (Shapiro-Wilk test, p = 0.001). Data are presented as mean and standard deviation, median and interquartile, for variables normally and non-normally distributed, respectively. The correlation between variables was determined using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. A regression model to predict performance in the SMTP, based on the anthropometrical, physiological and performance variables, was performed. The significance level was set at 5%. Based on the results, there was an association between all the PCA and SMTP variables: weight, lean body mass, trunk flexion, and estimated VO₂max based on the distance covered in the 12-minute test. The following equation was generated: SMTP (s) = 350.611 – 1.556 (fat-free mass, in kg) – 0.34 (12-min running distance, in m) – 0.632 (sit-up, in repetitions). The explained variance of the SMTP was 72.3% with an estimated standard error of 3.6s. It was observed that, although the association was diagnosed in some variables, there is a need to analyze possibilities for improvement in the selection of physical fitness tests that are closer to operationality in BAF Infantry military personnel.

Recommended Citation

Silva, Raí Tripolone; Campos, Fabio A D; Benetti Campos, Leandra Cristina; Takito, Monica Y.; Miron, Edison M.; Pellegrinotti, Idico L.; and Franchini, Emerson (2020) "Anthropometrical and Physical Fitness Predictors of Operational Military Test Performance in Air Force Personnel," International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 13 : Iss. 4, Pages 1028 - 1040.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol13/iss4/21