U.S. Navy Considers Videogames for Fitness Training

[Andy Chalk]

U.S. Navy Considers Videogames for Fitness Training

The Dance Dance Revolution [http://www.navy.mil/] to help whip soft, flabby new recruits into some kind of fighting shape.

The military, it goes without saying, is a physically demanding organization. But more than from any previous generation, a lot of new recruits these days just aren't up to it. Their sedentary, Dorito-eating lifestyles have left them ill-equipped to cope with the demands of recruit training, according to a report in the May issue of Navy Times [http://www.navytimes.com/], and the Navy has seen a rising number of injuries at boot camp suffered by recruits who can't handle the amount of "standing and running" involved in training.

The solution? Navy Surgeon General Vice Admiral Adam Robinson thinks it might be found in videogames like Wii Fit and DDR, which could help "newcomers to the military service build up the endurance they need to get in shape safely." The games would be used in addition to the regular training courses, naturally, to help ease soft, squishy recruits to the point at which they could run a mile without busting a gut.

It's far from a done deal at this point, as the Navy is still just "looking into" the idea. Is it a good one? I never had the discipline or moral fiber necessary to even consider a military career so I'm not really in a position to judge, but I have to wonder: What would Gunnery Sergeant Hartman think?

Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/us-navy-considering-fitness-video-games-for-boot-camp/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fjoystiq+%28Joystiq%29]


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[ffs-dontcare]

Personally, I think it's a decent idea. It could work quite well, I think.

And somehow I don't think Hartman would be too pleased if he saw our dear fat boy Pyle stomping around madly on DDR.

 

[swolf]

No! Just no! The way the military does PT instills discipline. This is ridiculous but I don't think that I would mind it so much for the Navy...but what about the Marine Corps? Since they are kinda considered in the Dep't of the Navy? Will their notorious Crucible be dwindled down into some type of gaming marathon. War is hell, training for it should be hell. As the saying goes "the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war". I'm saying this as a person who was Army and still hasn't completely healed from a seriously injured shoulder and knee that were injured during my time training and pushed myself running to the point of passing out multiple times (turns out I'm asthmatic and allergic to bat poo, who knew?). This is just ridiculous! Don't get me wrong, I've played and enjoyed DDR and games like that but they simply can not compare to having to function properly (while sleep deprived) while physically exerting yourself to the limit while being yelled at angrily by a person you know has a REAL kill count ( (and personality)that makes you think he would have been a serial killer if he had chosen another life. This simply can't compare. Train like you fight! OT: my dad (who spent 18+ years before early retirement) thinks it's a good idea for the Navy due to space constraints...which is true for the ships but not for basic training. Also, if your recruiter or local gym doesn't offer fitness instruction try out Insanity or P90X, I hear they're pretty good...still haven't tried it myself though...

 

[KnowYourOnion]

So some recruits can't run a mile?
and they let these people in.!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jared]

So airforce has PS3 and the Navy has the Wii. Army and 360 anyone?

 

[iLikeHippos]

THAT'S IT! I'm sold!

Where do I fill in the blankets for joining the army?

... Fuck, I got to wait at least 1 year don't I? (17 now)

 

[TerribleAssassin]

So airforce has PS3 and the Navy has the Wii. Army and 360 anyone?

Naa, they play AC2 on PC, no shit.

Even they're pissed off about DRM


OT: Hartman would say "Are you taking the fucking piss out of my god damn corp!?!"

and seems abit anti-healthy.

 

[swolf]

So some recruits can't run a mile?
and they let these people in.!!!!!!!!!

I knew a guy who couldn't do 10 pushups when he enlisted. The recruiters push them in anyway to get the $ and they believe they will become prepared in training. Also, they have the Fitness Training Companies to help prep. If anyone in FL (I live near Cocoa Beach) wants to prep for the military, just let me know and I'll train you for free, no problem. Otherwise, research the requirements and prepare so that you can do it easily.

 

[dududf]

I didn't think they'd accept people who are in such poor physical shape.

But if they are trying to include people that are not exact;ly in peak physical condition, then sure go ahead.

Might as well give em a badge of pussyhood as well. *Hey look guys, I couldn't do the training without playing a video game!*

If it works, great, if not then not so great.

 

[CGAdam]

As someone IN the Navy, NO. This is a really terrible idea. Boot camp was already watered down and getting weaker when I went through, and now they want to have the recruits doing Wii aerobics? Nuh-uh. We're not trained to Marine standards, but there's no reason we should have new guys doing video game jazzercise, either. PT three days a week while you're in boot is NOT THAT BAD. I suck at running, and even I'll say that.

 

[Nikajo]

Surely there must be better methods than using Wii fit? I've heard mixed things about the effectiveness of it anyway. Apparently it's good for people who just want to keep themselves ticking over but doesn't sound like it would be appropriate for military training.

If somebody wants to join the military you would've thought that they would try to prepare themselves a little bit anyway. It's hardly gonna be a walk in the park is it?

This is sweet news and that picture made me LAUGH out loud. I seriously wonder which movie that was again, I remember it, I don't remember the name.

So please, anyone who knows the name. Quote or message me!

I think it was full metal jacket....not entirely sure though

 

[Legion]

That's why the British military has pre-joining courses. 2 days for the Army (I think) and 3 for the Marines. You won't get into basic without passing these and even before then you have a fitness check-up.

In the case of the Marines you need to do a running fitness test prior to even doing the three day "trial" course; 1.5 miles in 13.5 minutes, a minute break then 1.5 miles in 10.5 minutes, oh and it's on a gradient.

 

[Superbeast]

This is sweet news and that picture made me LAUGH out loud. I seriously wonder which movie that was again, I remember it, I don't remember the name.

So please, anyone who knows the name. Quote or message me!

Full Metal Jacket

 

[KnowYourOnion]

So some recruits can't run a mile?
and they let these people in.!!!!!!!!!

I knew a guy who couldn't do 10 pushups when he enlisted. The recruiters push them in anyway to get the $ and they believe they will become prepared in training. Also, they have the Fitness Training Companies to help prep. If anyone in FL (I live near Cocoa Beach) wants to prep for the military, just let me know and I'll train you for free, no problem. Otherwise, research the requirements and prepare so that you can do it easily.

10???
That's less than what an amateur sports club will ask you to if you turn up late. I know this because from experience XD

 

[obisean]

OT: my dad (who spent 18+ years before early retirement) thinks it's a good idea for the Navy due to space constraints...which is true for the ships but not for basic training.

I was just about to reply this very thing to you. Good thing I read it through first eh? When I was on a DD (destroyer), we had a weight room that was actually pretty decently equipped. No free weights (obviously), but it got the job done. When that ship was dismantled they moved me to a DDG (guided missile destroyer), it was too cramped to have a weight room. They took our 5" cannon's ammo staging area and turned it into a "gym" with 2 treadmills and an elliptical. It wasn't used by many people. The XO and a few others used it, with the XO being the only one that mattered, so it stayed. Honestly though, on a modern DDG, I dont know how something like a Wii fit would even work. Imagine the terrible scores you would get on the "check your balance" game while underway.

 

[Asehujiko]

Wii Fit actually does something other then just spraining/breaking your ankles if you loose your balance during certain maneuvers?

 

[Danpascooch]

This is retar.....idiotic.

It's like that dumbass "snowworld" thing the army was thinking of doing to help people forget that they are covered in burns, it's just really, really stupid.

What possible benefit could they get from this? And that is expensive shit when you're talking about that scale.

I am starting to realize with horror that this crap me be our "japanese robots"

 

[Cryo84R]

We could just let RDCs at boot camp slap the shit out of recruits again. I'd be in favor of that.

 

[Plurralbles]

I'm sorry but coming from an organization that researched, STARING AT FUCKING GOATS! I expect nothing better, but still, dumbasses. How about you just lengthen the time for training, perhaps havea few months of prebootcamp(even if that exists, make another one more a level below). The military really should be able to get anyone who wants to be in it in shape.

Of course, they'dhave more qualified recruits if they made the recruiting process easier.