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I was drafted into the U.S.Army in 1968 during the Vietnam war. NOBODY failed basic training during that period, the Drill Sergeants “fixed” it so everybody graduated basic training. Uncle Sam needed body counts in the ‘Nam!
Standards go really low when the forces that be really need more manpower. In Soviet Union, Germany or Hungary I really doubt that a willing volunteer would be rejected on ground of physical fitness at the darkest moments of each country (Germany still held "high" standards until the end of 1944 though, but only because there wasn't guns for everybody) either.
@@JosephsCoat That’s ONLY because todays WOKE Army is way behind on their enlistment quota! They need bodies, no matter how screwed up the kids are, so if course they won’t fail, If we go to war again, all those kid’s will come home in body bags. The pussy Army needs to tighten it’s training back up!
@@JosephsCoatWell, that's just it, if they can't deal with the stress, which a lot of people can't, they've failed. Of course the army wants people who are likely to be reliable in difficult, dangerous situations rather than bolting or not doing their jobs.
Imagine a WW2 vet came by and saw you two doing the fitness test he had to go through, just imagine the smile on his face knowing that you two are making a video preserving little pieces of forgotten history like this.
Imagine going to all that effort, all the training, getting yourself into amazing shape, and then getting wasted in the landing craft before you fired a shot. As much as looking back at WW2 is interesting, let’s not forget what a heartbreaking waste of young men it was.
You should bear in mind the recruits/draftees did this almost daily for the entirety of basic training, and the test was at the end. Very few could pass initially.
I imagine it would be rare not to pass after months of PT and a regulated diet. For most individuals, the strength to meet these standards can be met without trouble, and the primary limiting factor is weight. Definitely more of an issue in North America now with our obesity rates. I have heard that the marines really crush it when it comes to transforming individuals physically to meet standards.
@@nicholasmallozzi6774 They make big guys little, and little guys big. Loud guys quiet, quiet guys loud, etc. I was navy; not as much land combat training of course, but yeah, we had “Private Pyle” and the other archetypes. Those who couldn’t adapt went home.
Basic training was one thing, infantry training was at another level, though testing was the same. Higher average scores were expected. I attended the last Airborne-Infantry Advanced Training course at Ft. Gordon, GA. during the summer of 1969. Not only did we PT, we did double the PT typical infantry soldiers did. We did all the PT test events every training day, less the one mile run. We ran these events repeatedly on a testing area located directly behind our barracks. We also had long runs every day. The parachute school was not a problem. Ranger training was, again, at another level. Over 400 soldiers reported for training, about 125 completed the course with 115-120 being awarded the Ranger tab. It was a SOB and certainly not for everyone. It was physically demanding on soldiers who were fit on arrival.
I was in BMT recently (2009) and this is true. I was small but hardly fit, by the time I graduated I could easily pass the test. They'll do what they can to get you there, even if it means washing you back a few weeks. The main thing to keep in mind is you were paid and fed while there, so they were invested and wouldn't simply kick you out for failing unless you were absolutely horrible. Despite the reputation drill sergeants/training instructors have they WANT you to succeed.
compared to todays general youth it doesnt matter what you did as a soldier 20 years ago those guys either volounteered or were drafted and could already perforrm a basic fitness test withh ease today half of you americans is obese @@irontrunk2267
My Dad was raised on a farm in Arkansas during the Great Depression and ate pickle and mustard sandwiches throughout his life. He served in the war from 1942-45. His next younger brother also served in the war along with an uncle of my Mother, and her cousin who was wounded in combat and sent back to the States. They all survived and lived long lives. I occasionally still eat pickle and mustard sandwiches. Thanks for the videos.
As a weightlifter in the gym, that many pullups with pretty decent form is actually very good man! You do look decently muscled though. Doing some working out besides reenacting?
I thought that! As someone who mainly does calisthenics I'd have liked to have seen the chin a bit higher above the bar bit still 18+ pull ups is solid
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 there's more wrong with his form than the speed. But tbh, still an insane number of pull ups tbf. He's not bodybuilding, so time under tension doesn't matter, its about squeezing out as many reps as possible. And tbh even if you are bodybuilding, some competence in correct form is important to prevent injury, but full rom, perfect form, time under tension, aren't as important as people make out. For example prisoners who do high rep push ups tend to do partial rom, fast reps, the high number number of reps and constant tension in the muscles from never locking out and resting in the up position, creates crazy blood flow and time under tension which is why we see jacked prisoner workouts and stuff. I know that sounds contradicting of what I just said but it's just one example of why doing certain things fitness influences drill into us when working out isn't the be all and end all and there's lots of benefits to doing things slightly differently
He did really well though. Have to keep in mind, soldiers back then didn't just jump right into taking the test, they did PT every morning and some also did PT in the evening as well. By the time the test was taken, most were probably more than prepared.
Because this is just a test standard. When we did physical training (PT) it was up to the NCO’s to lead it and do whatever workouts we wanted before going to work.
@@wesleykamerer6154yeah but when doing pt in big groups, its much better to have stuff as dummyproof as possible. Youre not going to be coaching every single person on their form during pt
Wow, it's fascinating to see how fitness standards have evolved over the years! The WWII Army Fitness Test was a testament to the physical demands soldiers faced during that time. It's a reminder of the dedication and resilience of the men and women who served. Great video shedding light on this historical aspect of military training! 💪
Lowkey think this guy is a time traveller that escaped the hell of WWII by traveling to the future and then learned all of our technology and now has a RUclips channel.
@@Potatodrumcrow That was actually never a real accent; it was an accent almost all Americans would use when they knew they were being recorded, kind of a formal sounding speech to sound more "posh". My dad inherited it from his parents and he only used it while on the phone, or if he knew he was on video/audio. My grandparents were exactly the same, and if you look it up, you'll realize it was an entirely fake accent used for recordings or phones. Sometimes some especially uppity people would use it their entire lives, but it was not normal and they would receive a fair bit of criticism for it even back then.
I like your content man! It’s awesome for you to shine some light on PT standards during that time. I was Army so this hit home for me. I can see similarities between this test and the recent Army PT test.
Is there a rest time between events? For the modern PT tests, you have a period in between events where you can sit down, catch your breath, drink some water. Might be why you were so winded if you did them back to back.
Hopefully..... Often, its just get the PT test over if not many are taking it, kind of brutal. But ya, doing all this back to back.... F that. In a Company sized unit, you are goona get like 15 to 30 minutes between events just over having a 120 - 150 guys to cycle through and score. And that matters.
I remember getting two minutes between events if I was the only one testing. But if your whole unit is testing, you would have more than that because your tester has to test a whole bunch of other people in that event before he gets back to you and your next event.
It makes sense why my NCOs saw me as the “Perfect Paratrooper” because I scored really well on the test (my NCOs had me try it in my unit but they never told me the score or how well i did). I performed most of my duties on the drop zones pretty well too. Except for when it came to carrying my buddies off the LZ because I’ve always kind of been a little guy all my life. All the way brother! Good luck on the next test and I might even try it myself, I’ve been out a couple years though lol
The Australian Army basic fitness assessment for an under 21yr old was 100 sit ups, 50 push ups and a 2.4 km run under 10:50 when I joined in 1999. The best present turning 21 was that I only needed to do 40 pushups. I always struggled with 50.
I'm impressed you did this. At 4:13 if 11 was the minimum, I would have never gotten into Airborne School in 1977. But I earned my Ranger tab and Jump Wings. At 8:18, what you would have heard in 1977 was, "Zero, zero, zero, zero..." We had to do fewer, but we had to get the bottom of our chin on the top of the bar, and come to a full halt at the bottom. In 1961, my bother-in-law had to touch his chest to the counter's hand on the ground. In 1977, we had to "break the plane" (back of our arms parallel to the ground); this time, more but easier. Dang! Straight-let sit-ups are hard! (And hard on the body in a very bad way). We did bent-leg sit-ups with our feet flat on the ground. I remember there was a requirement of at least 2 minutes rest between each test, but the reality was a long wait while the few graders went through all the men in the unit.
Sit ups for core strength to carry a heavy pack, pull ups to simulate pulling yourself over a wall, push ups to simulate getting up and down off the ground quickly during combat, and sprints to simulate moving cover to cover.
The modern version tests similar things as well: Deadlift (Hexbar) to simulate lifting a litter Standing power throw (backward medicine ball throw) to simulate pushing someone up over an obstacle. Hand release pushups (T Pushups) to simulate getting up from cover 2 mile run for general endurance. There's another event in the middle of the test called the spring-drag-carry, a relay where you shuttle sprint, drag 90lbs, carry two 35lb kettlebells, and shuttle back. Simulates dragging wounded, carrying ammo, and moving quickly. You even start from the ground to simulate getting up from prone in battle.
An exceedingly cool presentation. I was Army Infantry for a looooong time, and successful performance on PT tests was something a soldier always prepared for. Back in the 1970s, we wore regular issue combat boots when taking a PT test. This presentation was every bit as relevant as learning about small arms carried and tactics used. An excellent presentation.👍👍👍
I've never understood why they changed the PT test footwear from combat boots to trainers. I'm not aware of any army or marine units that operate in combat wearing trainers.
@@buskman3286 I think the change to tennies was complementary kit to the gay beret imposed in the 1980s during the Shinseki era. Berets were cool when only worn by Airborne, Ranger, and SF units. I liked the bus driver and garrison caps.
Great video. The exercises focused on short endurance, explosive movements which addresses the needs of combat. Notice no 2-3 mile runs. Back then, paratroopers trained like commandos and airborne school was especially tough.
As he said at the start, even malnourished 18 year olds can be turned into brutally effective killing machines with this routine, over time. Everyone can achieve greatness if the circumstances require it :)
Has anyone, looking for a PhD topic, ever researched these exercises to see how actually effective they were or what should have been added or deleted? I had to score high on things like the awful "monkey-bars" in 1970 as I knew my running score would be bad due to slight asthma.
My father went in the US Army in 1944 - after failing the physical 13 times. He said by the time he finished airborne training - in which you had to run everywhere - you "could have kicked him in the stomach and I wouldn't have been hurt". Unfortunately, when someone landed on him during the qualifying jump - he ended up with a broken wrist. Off as in infantry replacement he went.
No, they build you up over time during basic and then AIT. If you start out around whatever the standards are before basic, you will be fine. If you start below them, if you even get run through something like that (I did back in 2006) it will be harder for sure. But do not sell yourself short. The military has been talking folks through this for 100's of years. If you show up in some sort of ok average civilian shape, you will be fine.
You are the service to all veterans I bet you they feel honoured to see a young man who probably looked like them doing the stuff they did decades ago 🫡
I’m actually pretty impressed at how practical this type of PT test actually is for combat applications. They really hit the muscle groups that you need to be able to use and the way you need to use them.
I think you did really well. I would be curious to know when the performance test was administered during basic training? Week one? Week eight? Other factors during the era of WW 2 people probably did more physical labor in lieu of working out after work. If you lived in that era you knew after basic you were going to 1 of 2 theaters. Pacific or European two big motivators to get into shape. Just that one mental factor could possibly keep you motivated.
1st week I'd say. This was to test how good they are individually. They wanted to see what they have in store for the army. There is a solid chance if they did too poorly they wouldn't classify or something.
@@Germanica1871 This is true, one way my Grandpa survived, he scored so highly and shot so well, they spent money training him for a specialized ski group (he had other special training before that I have forgotten what it was) where he trained in total 2 years. By the time he got to Europe things were nearly over although he did see a little action.
Wow wow wow... well well well... our fancy man World War Wisdom has sponsors now. But seriously now, glad to see your channel growing. You have some great content.
Great clip and subject, well done. the test compares well with today's fitness tests in terms of how some classic exercises are still used. Hopefully you'll have better fitting boots next time too, and you had a great helper. Also, great actual WWII footage.
With modern running shoes the 300 yd dash doesn't seem that bad, but watch him run in those shoes hurt my ankles. Also my knees ached from those squat jumps
A lot of those old world war two soldiers weighed a lot less and many of them came from farming backgrounds or walked a lot more in general and were genreally more fit than follks today because of that. Having said that I would imagine that those recruits of that period would have had the most trouble with things like pullups, burpies, the kneeling squat jump, and the partner carry ], to say nothing of the 300 yard running test, since those are all anaerobic in nature. They were already pretty lean by todays standards but they really had to be able to just keep moving and be able to do it over and over again while carrying the equipment...They were tough guys. I remember in college when I did military fitness we did the test with a 2 mile run and totals for situps and pushups in a 2 minute period. We focused a lot on running/jogging depending on the terrain, partner assisted strength exercises, stair running mixed with bodyweight circuits done for time such as 1 to 2 minutes per station, and also did a tiny bit of pullups and chinups. I think that even though this test is from world war 2 that it seems far more comprehensive and superior to the test they had us doing in that military fitness class and far closer to meeting the needs of a solider from what I can understand. You might have to modify some of the exercises for safety with regards to the knees and lower back but overall you could take this test today and use it for a military force somewhere in the world and it wouldn't be too bad of a test to use for a general military force provided things were modified on some of the exercises...Particularly in a place where there wasn't as much equipment or money to train the troops.
They also had Jack Dempsey's manual to train them in judo and boxing. It was felt necessary to toughen them up, although the exact training each soldier got varied a lot depending on time of the war, their age, their aptitude etc.
19:08 the Physical Efficiency Score Card (time 18:48) have three more empty columns for tests 2, 3, and 4. It can be your personal project to improve and track your progress, as it was done back than. I wish for you to achive a level of fitness - Paratrooper :)
Wow, amazing! Been looking for something like this for a while now and this was perfect! Would be fun if you could do a PT 1942 version and maybe the paratrooper PT, since I know it would have been harder. Still amazing! Keep doing your thing and you’ll be famous!!!
I went through Infantry OSUT training at Fort Benning in 1980. The PT uniform was unbloused issue combat boots (yes, boots - not running shoes) OG107 fatigue uniform trousers and a white tee shirt. The PT test had 5 events - 2 mile run, the run dodge and jump, the inverted crawl, the parallel bars and situps. About a year later the Army changed to a 3 event PT test - 2 mile run, situps and pushups. A couple of years later, the Army started issuing PT uniforms and allowed running shoes. BTW - until about 1982 Reservists only had to pass a four mile march in one hour.
That was your first attempt with no prior training in the specific exercises. Keep in mind the men being tested would have been training for some time before being tested again soit is the improvement after training that is the real gauge. Good effort.
So great to see someone take on a quantifiable scoring version of this test. Our citizen soldiers of the day were a lot more fit than we are now. You need to find a running coach - just guessing that you never really ran anything in your life from watching your style. In 54 seconds, you should have covered 400, not 300. I did not serve, have never tried this, so who am I to say anything. I did used to do the Marine Corps 16 every morning because it requires nothing more than the routine, your body, and an hour of your time. Carry on, great stuff!
What's interesting to note is how slim these fit, strong soldiers were back then, as opposed to now where everyone lifts for size over strength and stamina.
The weight carried by the average soldier nowadays is ~128lbs (58kg), while the US soldier in ww2, recorded as the heaviest one in gear at the time, carried ~68lbs (31kg)- So it's almost double the weight in kilos (and above that in pounds). You should also consider that this shift from endurance to strength ocurred not only because of even more weight, but also because motorized/mechanized infantry is much more present nowadays.
I’d lose my shit if Hell Let Loose was the sponsor Edit: Actually, I’d be down to see this guy play some HLL sometime. Consider it for content, and I’ll watch it at work lol
I went to Boot Camp in 4 June 80. The PT Uniform was what you were Issued. Those Black leather boots and a Tshirt. Sometimes they would let you un blouse your boots.
I went through Army Basic training in Mar, to May 1964 & we never wore or even were issued shorts to do "runs" or calisthenics! We also didn't have sneakers but wore our "combat, high-top shoes"! After working up to it, we ran 2 to 3 miles, twice a day, with a 5 mile run, before we finished Basic! I was only 18, but barely made it through! My guess is today's average teenager would "flunk out' at alarming rates, due to obesity!
Wow that burpee was easy! At my marital arts class we would do a star jump to finish it off! Also, your channel is really interesting. Keep up the good work!
Wow! So we know from photos that WWII soldiers were pretty lean, yet they were evidently fit enough to do well on these exercises. I wonder if your excess muscle mass might have slowed you down. I also wonder how much impact the shoes have on the results. Feet are weird and have apparently changed throughout history. We evolved to run barefoot on the savanna, yet few runners today can run without shoes, and when I started larping I was told that modern feet aren't used to the flatness of medieval shes. A WWII soldier would've been used to shitty shoes without any sort of cushioning. I would like you to repeat the exercises with your normal shoes and see if you get better results.
We used to have to run pick a back carrying someone during wrestling practice. No time limit was ever given. It was just run until we tell you not to, and if anyone looks like they are slacking we keep going.
I know my core is one of my strong suits, but I blew that sit up standard out of the water. I got up to 122 when I felt like stopping, probably could’ve done more too. You did well on the pull ups and push ups though man, good job!
Yeah you are right the chin should be above the bar however he wasn’t supposed to do chin up’s. Those were pull ups. Chin up’s have the hands closer together and the grip is reversed, but still yeah chin wasn’t high enough.
It may be the camera angle, but none of those pullups would have counted at airborne school in the 80s. You chin had to clear the bar, not just come up to it.
Basic Training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) was 16 to 18 weeks long in the 1980s. The Drill Instructors kicked you ass every day. The minimum number of push ups was 40 in 2 min, sit ups 40 in 2 min, 2 mile run, around 16 minutes. We had guys that did over 120 push ups and sit ups and ran the 2 miles in under 12 min. I was "average" at about 60 push ups, 60 sit ups, and ran the two miles in about 13 min and 30 seconds. I would bet that each generation since WWII has become less fit on average.
This video is really informative!! By the way, how’d you get into reenacting? Especially with purchasing the equipment needed and would you happen to know if there are any reenactment groups in Texas?
So happy to see you got a sponcer and that were the same hight should help me get a good scale of the things you show, just bought myself an m41 jacket and i hope its a good step to becoming a reenactor like u 😂
I think you've got to remember that these tests wouldn't have been done on raw recruits (other than to see their baseline), which effectively you were. Even if you're an "otherwise fit person" getting attuned to those specific exercises would take some time, and the soldiers in the day would have had plenty of 'attunement' inflicted upon them in basic training. Like, you did really well in pull ups, which is probably an exercise that you do relatively regularly. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do the other exercises at all (except for the run). Practice those particular movements, and I bet you'd quickly get better. And don't forget, you want your inspiration of being sent to the front line.
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@WorldWarWisdom thanks for posting the PT resources
Only 28 sit-ups? Private, I do a minimum of 50 each time.
The link isn’t working
I was drafted into the U.S.Army in 1968 during the Vietnam war. NOBODY failed basic training during that period, the Drill Sergeants “fixed” it so everybody graduated basic training. Uncle Sam needed body counts in the ‘Nam!
Standards go really low when the forces that be really need more manpower. In Soviet Union, Germany or Hungary I really doubt that a willing volunteer would be rejected on ground of physical fitness at the darkest moments of each country (Germany still held "high" standards until the end of 1944 though, but only because there wasn't guns for everybody) either.
Nobody fails now. People quit, but nobody fails
@@JosephsCoat That’s ONLY because todays WOKE Army is way behind on their enlistment quota! They need bodies, no matter how screwed up the kids are, so if course they won’t fail, If we go to war again, all those kid’s will come home in body bags. The pussy Army needs to tighten it’s training back up!
@@JosephsCoatWell, that's just it, if they can't deal with the stress, which a lot of people can't, they've failed. Of course the army wants people who are likely to be reliable in difficult, dangerous situations rather than bolting or not doing their jobs.
@@colbyboucher6391 I’m saying you can fail in nearly every event and they’ll pass you through.
Imagine a WW2 vet came by and saw you two doing the fitness test he had to go through, just imagine the smile on his face knowing that you two are making a video preserving little pieces of forgotten history like this.
Yeah at 95 he'd be basically unconscious
@@rollei35mm Look at Joe Biden and UK's King
@@rollei35mmdon’t talk about Joe Biden like that
at this point the ww2 generation as a cohort have long since been gone. around 2007-2008.
2nd Canadian Division 34th Combat Engineer Regiment in 2012 @ 19 years old, CHIMO!
Imagine going to all that effort, all the training, getting yourself into amazing shape, and then getting wasted in the landing craft before you fired a shot. As much as looking back at WW2 is interesting, let’s not forget what a heartbreaking waste of young men it was.
Well said.
Any war for that matter
Trust me, many men would rather live in the times of 1940 then in the modern day insanity where depression and suicide is at an all time high in men.
@@FabianDialer-vw1zk I think many people THINK they’d like that…
@@FabianDialer-vw1zk and what was so much better in 1940s?
And you have to do all that while smoking two packs of unfiltered Lucky's per day.
the cigarettes open up your lungs for better endurance! :)
Love a Lucky. Always used to smoke em.
Ha ha
That was AFTER they were in the military and got their daily rations of cigs courtesy of the benevolent tobacco companies
@@davidnorthdale1164 Me It was and is camels still smoke 2 packs a day, in my 60's and run 5 miles a day.
You should bear in mind the recruits/draftees did this almost daily for the entirety of basic training, and the test was at the end. Very few could pass initially.
I imagine it would be rare not to pass after months of PT and a regulated diet. For most individuals, the strength to meet these standards can be met without trouble, and the primary limiting factor is weight. Definitely more of an issue in North America now with our obesity rates.
I have heard that the marines really crush it when it comes to transforming individuals physically to meet standards.
@@nicholasmallozzi6774 They make big guys little, and little guys big. Loud guys quiet, quiet guys loud, etc. I was navy; not as much land combat training of course, but yeah, we had “Private Pyle” and the other archetypes. Those who couldn’t adapt went home.
Basic training was one thing, infantry training was at another level, though testing was the same. Higher average scores were expected. I attended the last Airborne-Infantry Advanced Training course at Ft. Gordon, GA. during the summer of 1969. Not only did we PT, we did double the PT typical infantry soldiers did. We did all the PT test events every training day, less the one mile run. We ran these events repeatedly on a testing area located directly behind our barracks. We also had long runs every day.
The parachute school was not a problem. Ranger training was, again, at another level. Over 400 soldiers reported for training, about 125 completed the course with 115-120 being awarded the Ranger tab. It was a SOB and certainly not for everyone. It was physically demanding on soldiers who were fit on arrival.
I was in BMT recently (2009) and this is true. I was small but hardly fit, by the time I graduated I could easily pass the test. They'll do what they can to get you there, even if it means washing you back a few weeks.
The main thing to keep in mind is you were paid and fed while there, so they were invested and wouldn't simply kick you out for failing unless you were absolutely horrible. Despite the reputation drill sergeants/training instructors have they WANT you to succeed.
Very true. hell, it still amazes me when Basic Trainees go from literally 0/0/0 on an APFT to baically meeting or exceeding standards w/i 11 weeks.
The average WW2 soldier was 5'8" and weighed 144 lbs. Makes a lot of difference.
Damm, that makes them weigh like 60lbs less than me. I guess they didn't really have the gym back then tho
That is my new goal. I am 5'8, now I just gotta get down to 144 from ~180 safely, and I'll feel much better. Probably fit into my suits again, too.
@@jaylinnell5251 Hahaha yeah, for me, I generally bulk then cut to 10ish % body fat then bulk again. I'm 6'2 though so idk how that compares
5' 8" is generous. More like 5' 6" commonly.
In other words: me.
The "whatever this is" at timestamp 2:52 is the "back pressure/arm lift" method for artificial respiration in case of drowning.
I love when im scrolling comments and read a comment with a timestamp at the same time the actual time stamp comes up.
Kinda like how they would do in Tom and Jerry
@@queenannesrevenge3770my favorite is when it is 1 second after the intended time and you never end up seeing it
Superceded by the mouth-to-mouth method during the 1950s. The back pressure and arm lift method was shown to not provide adequate ventilation.
“ if you’re not fit, you’re gonna die”😂😂
True, i understand that I can not run for minutes straight while sprinting full speed.
Amazing, how fast you can run when someone is shooting at you, and you are running thru a dry, plowed, rice paddy.
Not if you're in the rear with the gear.
my friend at bragg did the WW2 paratroopers test and it was about the same. It's amazing how fit those guys were
Because they were the best of the best
Amazing considering how much beer and cigarettes they ingested
@@NYG5that or they were made of sterner stuff back then, had to survive working hard and consuming real food, and weren’t soft like we are today.
People say how fit these guys were. Compared to what? This is nothing compared to the shit we did at Bragg just 20 years ago.
compared to todays general youth
it doesnt matter what you did as a soldier 20 years ago
those guys either volounteered or were drafted and could already perforrm a basic fitness test withh ease
today half of you americans is obese @@irontrunk2267
My Dad was raised on a farm in Arkansas during the Great Depression and ate pickle and mustard sandwiches throughout his life. He served in the war from 1942-45. His next younger brother also served in the war along with an uncle of my Mother, and her cousin who was wounded in combat and sent back to the States. They all survived and lived long lives. I occasionally still eat pickle and mustard sandwiches. Thanks for the videos.
I live in Arkansas and one of my favorite foods is honestly texas toast. It's not the same but still bread related.
??
As a weightlifter in the gym, that many pullups with pretty decent form is actually very good man! You do look decently muscled though. Doing some working out besides reenacting?
I thought that! As someone who mainly does calisthenics I'd have liked to have seen the chin a bit higher above the bar bit still 18+ pull ups is solid
@@feldgraufox4927he actually did 13 pull ups not 18
He did 13 it’s good still
Form was poor, the upwards move should be fast 1 second pause at the top and a SLOW eccentric movement back down. Doing it fast is cheat reps.
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 there's more wrong with his form than the speed. But tbh, still an insane number of pull ups tbf. He's not bodybuilding, so time under tension doesn't matter, its about squeezing out as many reps as possible. And tbh even if you are bodybuilding, some competence in correct form is important to prevent injury, but full rom, perfect form, time under tension, aren't as important as people make out. For example prisoners who do high rep push ups tend to do partial rom, fast reps, the high number number of reps and constant tension in the muscles from never locking out and resting in the up position, creates crazy blood flow and time under tension which is why we see jacked prisoner workouts and stuff. I know that sounds contradicting of what I just said but it's just one example of why doing certain things fitness influences drill into us when working out isn't the be all and end all and there's lots of benefits to doing things slightly differently
this man has more guns then the armoury of the us army
Real
That's setting the bar low,
If you can compare your collection to a random plumber from Kentucky, then you have a good gun collection
More weapons than the Bundeswehr during 2018
Not really, it's a humble collection
more than the Russian army
The "Burpee" was actually called the "Squat Thrust" in FM 21-20.
Burpees and squat thrusts are two different exercises. Burpees are the new squat thrusts essentially.
@@goforbroke4428 I'm saying the exercise that he was calling the Burpee was, and is, actually a squat thrust.
It’s not a burpee it’s what they call a “Down-Up”
He did really well though.
Have to keep in mind, soldiers back then didn't just jump right into taking the test, they did PT every morning and some also did PT in the evening as well. By the time the test was taken, most were probably more than prepared.
Also, back then people did a lot more physical labor, so they were more fit. Relatively speaking anyway.
haven't worked out properly in 1 month, this video drove me to start again
Havent worked out properly in over 5 years. I did one of those jumping squats and decided I like being out of shape
Edgar crossed himself at the mention of the Gunny, God rest his soul. Good man.
The squat jumps are killer. They are an excellent workout. Im not sure why they aren't used anymore
They are weird jump squats though, definitely not what I'm used to
bad for your fucking knees and increased risk of injury on both the knees and ankles by constantly forcing them to switch between which foot is front.
@@TheBanjoShowOfficial just like with any exercise, proper form is key
Because this is just a test standard. When we did physical training (PT) it was up to the NCO’s to lead it and do whatever workouts we wanted before going to work.
@@wesleykamerer6154yeah but when doing pt in big groups, its much better to have stuff as dummyproof as possible. Youre not going to be coaching every single person on their form during pt
Wow, it's fascinating to see how fitness standards have evolved over the years! The WWII Army Fitness Test was a testament to the physical demands soldiers faced during that time. It's a reminder of the dedication and resilience of the men and women who served. Great video shedding light on this historical aspect of military training! 💪
Women didn’t serve
@@BaconSlayer69 you are wrong search on Google and RUclips women were served in ww2
@@BaconSlayer69 ruclips.net/user/shortsyXMETkg-WVg?si=y3fKHCEgvGUbdg8e
I mean, youbhad the WACs, but they served strictly as secretaries and nurses, and held to anywhere near the same physical standards, if any at all.
@@hamie7624some were pilots actually
Lowkey think this guy is a time traveller that escaped the hell of WWII by traveling to the future and then learned all of our technology and now has a RUclips channel.
he used die glocke
Who is Lowkey? Is that the guy from the Marvel movies?
He probably took a leaf out of Captain America’s book and froze himself 😂
His American accent would be a little bit different ;) like trans Atlantic haha
@@Potatodrumcrow That was actually never a real accent; it was an accent almost all Americans would use when they knew they were being recorded, kind of a formal sounding speech to sound more "posh". My dad inherited it from his parents and he only used it while on the phone, or if he knew he was on video/audio. My grandparents were exactly the same, and if you look it up, you'll realize it was an entirely fake accent used for recordings or phones. Sometimes some especially uppity people would use it their entire lives, but it was not normal and they would receive a fair bit of criticism for it even back then.
I like your content man! It’s awesome for you to shine some light on PT standards during that time. I was Army so this hit home for me. I can see similarities between this test and the recent Army PT test.
Dude looks like Steve Rogers
Is there a rest time between events? For the modern PT tests, you have a period in between events where you can sit down, catch your breath, drink some water. Might be why you were so winded if you did them back to back.
depends on the staff sergeant/drill instructor. Mostly you had 10 seconds to catch your breath and then you're back to running.
Hopefully..... Often, its just get the PT test over if not many are taking it, kind of brutal. But ya, doing all this back to back.... F that. In a Company sized unit, you are goona get like 15 to 30 minutes between events just over having a 120 - 150 guys to cycle through and score. And that matters.
I remember getting two minutes between events if I was the only one testing. But if your whole unit is testing, you would have more than that because your tester has to test a whole bunch of other people in that event before he gets back to you and your next event.
It makes sense why my NCOs saw me as the “Perfect Paratrooper” because I scored really well on the test (my NCOs had me try it in my unit but they never told me the score or how well i did). I performed most of my duties on the drop zones pretty well too. Except for when it came to carrying my buddies off the LZ because I’ve always kind of been a little guy all my life. All the way brother! Good luck on the next test and I might even try it myself, I’ve been out a couple years though lol
12:46 Excellent is 72! even the drill sergeant was shocked by that one
The Australian Army basic fitness assessment for an under 21yr old was 100 sit ups, 50 push ups and a 2.4 km run under 10:50 when I joined in 1999. The best present turning 21 was that I only needed to do 40 pushups. I always struggled with 50.
I'm sorry, did you say 100 sit ups??!
Damn, everything over 40 pushups without stop is super damn hard, even as a fit lightweight guy.
I believe it was 28 press ups and 60 sit upstairs. 50 press ups is pretty tough going for the average recruit
Assuming that’s for mac points?
That's way too many push ups
Dude runs so goofy in those boots 😂
I'm impressed you did this. At 4:13 if 11 was the minimum, I would have never gotten into Airborne School in 1977. But I earned my Ranger tab and Jump Wings. At 8:18, what you would have heard in 1977 was, "Zero, zero, zero, zero..." We had to do fewer, but we had to get the bottom of our chin on the top of the bar, and come to a full halt at the bottom. In 1961, my bother-in-law had to touch his chest to the counter's hand on the ground. In 1977, we had to "break the plane" (back of our arms parallel to the ground); this time, more but easier. Dang! Straight-let sit-ups are hard! (And hard on the body in a very bad way). We did bent-leg sit-ups with our feet flat on the ground. I remember there was a requirement of at least 2 minutes rest between each test, but the reality was a long wait while the few graders went through all the men in the unit.
The obsolete straight=leg sit=ups contributed to a lot of back injury.
Honestly you look exactly like a generic WW2 private and I like it
Sit ups for core strength to carry a heavy pack, pull ups to simulate pulling yourself over a wall, push ups to simulate getting up and down off the ground quickly during combat, and sprints to simulate moving cover to cover.
The modern version tests similar things as well:
Deadlift (Hexbar) to simulate lifting a litter
Standing power throw (backward medicine ball throw) to simulate pushing someone up over an obstacle.
Hand release pushups (T Pushups) to simulate getting up from cover
2 mile run for general endurance.
There's another event in the middle of the test called the spring-drag-carry, a relay where you shuttle sprint, drag 90lbs, carry two 35lb kettlebells, and shuttle back.
Simulates dragging wounded, carrying ammo, and moving quickly. You even start from the ground to simulate getting up from prone in battle.
An exceedingly cool presentation. I was Army Infantry for a looooong time, and successful performance on PT tests was something a soldier always prepared for. Back in the 1970s, we wore regular issue combat boots when taking a PT test. This presentation was every bit as relevant as learning about small arms carried and tactics used. An excellent presentation.👍👍👍
I've never understood why they changed the PT test footwear from combat boots to trainers. I'm not aware of any army or marine units that operate in combat wearing trainers.
@@buskman3286 I think the change to tennies was complementary kit to the gay beret imposed in the 1980s during the Shinseki era. Berets were cool when only worn by Airborne, Ranger, and SF units. I liked the bus driver and garrison caps.
Great video. The exercises focused on short endurance, explosive movements which addresses the needs of combat. Notice no 2-3 mile runs. Back then, paratroopers trained like commandos and airborne school was especially tough.
dude looks like Captain America when he got out of that machine that changed him
You did good. Way better than most high school students would do these days.
True
as a high schooler myself this is true for the most part@@Eliott-b8p
As he said at the start, even malnourished 18 year olds can be turned into brutally effective killing machines with this routine, over time. Everyone can achieve greatness if the circumstances require it :)
Better then most young soliders today (including myself)
@richardnoah2922 The army isn’t holding you to that level of physical discipline???
It's him. THE anglo saxon. You're so wholesome and informative. Please dont ever stop doing what you're doing.
Yes. Right out of a Rockwell painting.
Has anyone, looking for a PhD topic, ever researched these exercises to see how actually effective they were or what should have been added or deleted? I had to score high on things like the awful "monkey-bars" in 1970 as I knew my running score would be bad due to slight asthma.
Read: The Soldiers' Load and the Mobility of a Nation by SLA Marshall. Based upon General Marshall's duties during WWII.
The military has already researched the topic and is still conducting research.
My father went in the US Army in 1944 - after failing the physical 13 times. He said by the time he finished airborne training - in which you had to run everywhere - you "could have kicked him in the stomach and I wouldn't have been hurt". Unfortunately, when someone landed on him during the qualifying jump - he ended up with a broken wrist. Off as in infantry replacement he went.
Me watching this knowing I'd die in boot camp
No, they build you up over time during basic and then AIT. If you start out around whatever the standards are before basic, you will be fine. If you start below them, if you even get run through something like that (I did back in 2006) it will be harder for sure. But do not sell yourself short. The military has been talking folks through this for 100's of years. If you show up in some sort of ok average civilian shape, you will be fine.
You are the service to all veterans I bet you they feel honoured to see a young man who probably looked like them doing the stuff they did decades ago 🫡
My drill instructors in bootcamp if they saw his pullups: ZERO! ZERO! ZERO!
My man was kipping so fair enough
Chin was rarely even with the pull up bar let alone being above it. Only the first rep cleared the bar. Good effort in general.
Agreed, that was scored incorrectly, no comment on the form, but the scoring was off.
@@TheBanjoShowOfficial Also it did jump from 11.5 to 17 lol. Edgar might be a drill but he aint sharp.
It jumped from 11.5 to 13 and he knew it was off but it’s hard to readjust when the person is still rapidly doing more pull-ups in front of you.
This rocks! I've been doing the 1946 FM21-20 PT ever since the Art of Manliness article about it. Thanks for the video.
I’m actually pretty impressed at how practical this type of PT test actually is for combat applications. They really hit the muscle groups that you need to be able to use and the way you need to use them.
Hey I just wanted to say that I love your videos and passion about WW2 history. Thanks for the great content as I too love WW2 history!
6:53 Just to keep you honest, the Army doesn't have Drill _Instructors_ but Drill _Sergeants._
I think you did really well. I would be curious to know when the performance test was administered during basic training? Week one? Week eight? Other factors during the era of WW 2 people probably did more physical labor in lieu of working out after work. If you lived in that era you knew after basic you were going to 1 of 2 theaters. Pacific or European two big motivators to get into shape. Just that one mental factor could possibly keep you motivated.
1st week I'd say.
This was to test how good they are individually.
They wanted to see what they have in store for the army.
There is a solid chance if they did too poorly they wouldn't classify or something.
@@Germanica1871millions were rejected on a physical basis so it’s plausible
@@Germanica1871 This is true, one way my Grandpa survived, he scored so highly and shot so well, they spent money training him for a specialized ski group (he had other special training before that I have forgotten what it was) where he trained in total 2 years. By the time he got to Europe things were nearly over although he did see a little action.
These are more practical than I expected, with the exception of the straightlegged situps that seem designed to slip a disc.
Wow wow wow... well well well... our fancy man World War Wisdom has sponsors now.
But seriously now, glad to see your channel growing. You have some great content.
Should absolutely keep up whatever you do and try again in a year. Aim for that 601
Great clip and subject, well done. the test compares well with today's fitness tests in terms of how some classic exercises are still used. Hopefully you'll have better fitting boots next time too, and you had a great helper. Also, great actual WWII footage.
I've always been fascinated with WW2 and I've been subbed for almost a year!
With modern running shoes the 300 yd dash doesn't seem that bad, but watch him run in those shoes hurt my ankles. Also my knees ached from those squat jumps
This was known as PE back in the 80's. You had to do a quarter mile run..50 pushups and crunches and a rope climb to the celing and back.😆
Excellent work! Your passion for the history shows through and is appreciated....
That guy is in good shape. I think those physical fitness standards are unrealistic.
this is cool, also i like how every now and then you try stuff that ww2 soldiers actually did!
This is fantastic, since I do WW2 Canadian Army re-enacting, as well as being a member of the Army National Guard. Keep it up pal. This is good stuff.
One thing to remember too is this is for combat soldiers, in the AAF the ground crews were so valuable they werent forced to do PT.
I see where the air force gets it from!
Draftees or volunteers? Lol.
@@richardnoah2922 depends on your job, tacp cct and pj PT like hell
@@gunsforevery1 all of them, they didnt want experienced mechanics not to be able to do their jobs
A lot of those old world war two soldiers weighed a lot less and many of them came from farming backgrounds or walked a lot more in general and were genreally more fit than follks today because of that. Having said that I would imagine that those recruits of that period would have had the most trouble with things like pullups, burpies, the kneeling squat jump, and the partner carry ], to say nothing of the 300 yard running test, since those are all anaerobic in nature. They were already pretty lean by todays standards but they really had to be able to just keep moving and be able to do it over and over again while carrying the equipment...They were tough guys.
I remember in college when I did military fitness we did the test with a 2 mile run and totals for situps and pushups in a 2 minute period. We focused a lot on running/jogging depending on the terrain, partner assisted strength exercises, stair running mixed with bodyweight circuits done for time such as 1 to 2 minutes per station, and also did a tiny bit of pullups and chinups. I think that even though this test is from world war 2 that it seems far more comprehensive and superior to the test they had us doing in that military fitness class and far closer to meeting the needs of a solider from what I can understand. You might have to modify some of the exercises for safety with regards to the knees and lower back but overall you could take this test today and use it for a military force somewhere in the world and it wouldn't be too bad of a test to use for a general military force provided things were modified on some of the exercises...Particularly in a place where there wasn't as much equipment or money to train the troops.
They also had Jack Dempsey's manual to train them in judo and boxing. It was felt necessary to toughen them up, although the exact training each soldier got varied a lot depending on time of the war, their age, their aptitude etc.
19:08 the Physical Efficiency Score Card (time 18:48) have three more empty columns for tests 2, 3, and 4. It can be your personal project to improve and track your progress, as it was done back than. I wish for you to achive a level of fitness - Paratrooper :)
That drill instructor goes hard as hell without trying lol
Wow, amazing! Been looking for something like this for a while now and this was perfect!
Would be fun if you could do a PT 1942 version and maybe the paratrooper PT, since I know it would have been harder.
Still amazing! Keep doing your thing and you’ll be famous!!!
Old school Flag. (48 star) Nice touch.
bro looks like captain America
💀💀💀
I went through Infantry OSUT training at Fort Benning in 1980. The PT uniform was unbloused issue combat boots (yes, boots - not running shoes) OG107 fatigue uniform trousers and a white tee shirt. The PT test had 5 events - 2 mile run, the run dodge and jump, the inverted crawl, the parallel bars and situps. About a year later the Army changed to a 3 event PT test - 2 mile run, situps and pushups. A couple of years later, the Army started issuing PT uniforms and allowed running shoes. BTW - until about 1982 Reservists only had to pass a four mile march in one hour.
That was your first attempt with no prior training in the specific exercises. Keep in mind the men being tested would have been training for some time before being tested again soit is the improvement after training that is the real gauge. Good effort.
Also they generally did more physical labor back then. Farmhands, factory workers, dockworkers, etc.
So great to see someone take on a quantifiable scoring version of this test. Our citizen soldiers of the day were a lot more fit than we are now. You need to find a running coach - just guessing that you never really ran anything in your life from watching your style. In 54 seconds, you should have covered 400, not 300. I did not serve, have never tried this, so who am I to say anything. I did used to do the Marine Corps 16 every morning because it requires nothing more than the routine, your body, and an hour of your time. Carry on, great stuff!
Now do the SS Officer training regimen. From the documents I've seen, that's some hardcore training!
After the first pull-up, he never got his chin over the bar again, hence his other attempts counted as 1/2, so his correct total was 9 1/2.
What's interesting to note is how slim these fit, strong soldiers were back then, as opposed to now where everyone lifts for size over strength and stamina.
Big time. They looked more like endurance athletes.
Exactly, as a bodybuilder, I can certainly attest to the fact that even if it's mainly muscle, cardio is so hard at 204lbs lol
The weight carried by the average soldier nowadays is ~128lbs (58kg), while the US soldier in ww2, recorded as the heaviest one in gear at the time, carried ~68lbs (31kg)- So it's almost double the weight in kilos (and above that in pounds).
You should also consider that this shift from endurance to strength ocurred not only because of even more weight, but also because motorized/mechanized infantry is much more present nowadays.
Thanks for posting a link to a PDF of the manual. You read my mind.
I’d lose my shit if Hell Let Loose was the sponsor
Edit: Actually, I’d be down to see this guy play some HLL sometime. Consider it for content, and I’ll watch it at work lol
Playing it daily 😊
I went to Boot Camp in 4 June 80. The PT Uniform was what you were Issued. Those Black leather boots and a Tshirt. Sometimes they would let you un blouse your boots.
I went through Army Basic training in Mar, to May 1964 & we never wore or even were issued shorts to do
"runs" or calisthenics! We also didn't have sneakers but wore our "combat, high-top shoes"! After working
up to it, we ran 2 to 3 miles, twice a day, with a 5 mile run, before we finished Basic! I was only 18, but barely
made it through! My guess is today's average teenager would "flunk out' at alarming rates, due to obesity!
Please do more with Edgar it was fun and funny to watch ! 😆🙃
Wow that burpee was easy!
At my marital arts class we would do a star jump to finish it off!
Also, your channel is really interesting. Keep up the good work!
Wow! So we know from photos that WWII soldiers were pretty lean, yet they were evidently fit enough to do well on these exercises. I wonder if your excess muscle mass might have slowed you down.
I also wonder how much impact the shoes have on the results. Feet are weird and have apparently changed throughout history. We evolved to run barefoot on the savanna, yet few runners today can run without shoes, and when I started larping I was told that modern feet aren't used to the flatness of medieval shes. A WWII soldier would've been used to shitty shoes without any sort of cushioning. I would like you to repeat the exercises with your normal shoes and see if you get better results.
We used to have to run pick a back carrying someone during wrestling practice. No time limit was ever given. It was just run until we tell you not to, and if anyone looks like they are slacking we keep going.
Great job! I followed along and did the test while I was watching the video. It was tough!
Excellent video. It would be interesting to see other tests from nations, like the UK, Germany or USSR.
Or Japan
Foreign Legion in France
The USSR recruited tens of thousands of women for front line duty. I would imagine if you could stand you could fight.
homie runs like my 4 year old nephew in pajama pants and cowboy boots
Him in those shorts... 😳🫠
LITERALLY I’m gagged
🤨
📸🤨
Coconut mall? Made me think this was a Panga video 😂
This video was awesome. Great work.
I would absolutely die
edgar is awesome, glad you got a period correct gentleman to join you for this!
I know my core is one of my strong suits, but I blew that sit up standard out of the water. I got up to 122 when I felt like stopping, probably could’ve done more too. You did well on the pull ups and push ups though man, good job!
You probably weigh 120lb as well
The thought of running curahee even once makes me want to die.
Not bad but not a single chin up. Chin must be above the bar. At least according to the Marines.
We call them pull ups in the Marines. He started out good but kinda faded at about ten.
Yeah you are right the chin should be above the bar however he wasn’t supposed to do chin up’s. Those were pull ups. Chin up’s have the hands closer together and the grip is reversed, but still yeah chin wasn’t high enough.
Yea id say he only did 14-15 reps
I can tell ive been with the marines too long cuz i watched you like a hawk on them pull ups 😂😂 but good shit
my boy I can do 63 sit-ups at 17 lol great video
I can do that many normal sit-ups, but these were a lot harder for me as you could see haha
@@WorldWarWisdom I see lol 😂
In 1968 Ft Polk it was full fatigue uniform, combat boots and 100°heat.
Same way you were going to be in Vietnam.
Makes sense.
It may be the camera angle, but none of those pullups would have counted at airborne school in the 80s. You chin had to clear the bar, not just come up to it.
Basic Training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) was 16 to 18 weeks long in the 1980s. The Drill Instructors kicked you ass every day. The minimum number of push ups was 40 in 2 min, sit ups 40 in 2 min, 2 mile run, around 16 minutes. We had guys that did over 120 push ups and sit ups and ran the 2 miles in under 12 min. I was "average" at about 60 push ups, 60 sit ups, and ran the two miles in about 13 min and 30 seconds. I would bet that each generation since WWII has become less fit on average.
This video is really informative!! By the way, how’d you get into reenacting? Especially with purchasing the equipment needed and would you happen to know if there are any reenactment groups in Texas?
Your buddy Edgar had a very tojo look to him with the mustache and thin frame circle glasses. Fitting for the time period, i dig it
So happy to see you got a sponcer and that were the same hight should help me get a good scale of the things you show, just bought myself an m41 jacket and i hope its a good step to becoming a reenactor like u 😂
I think you've got to remember that these tests wouldn't have been done on raw recruits (other than to see their baseline), which effectively you were.
Even if you're an "otherwise fit person" getting attuned to those specific exercises would take some time, and the soldiers in the day would have had plenty of 'attunement' inflicted upon them in basic training.
Like, you did really well in pull ups, which is probably an exercise that you do relatively regularly. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do the other exercises at all (except for the run).
Practice those particular movements, and I bet you'd quickly get better.
And don't forget, you want your inspiration of being sent to the front line.
i havnt seen but i hope ur fit 👗
4:33 my local 24 Hour Fitness offers the "lift a bomb over your head" workout classes
those were BS pullups. Keep your head level and actually pull yourself up, chin over the bar.