Perspectives on U.S. Army Physical Requirements: Problems and Current Approaches to Solutions

Of the various types of occupational standards (e.g., cognitive, formal education, manual dexterity) two of the more important considerations for military operations are physical demands and anthropometric characteristics. Fifty-seven percent of Army entry level jobs have a physical demands rating of heavy or very heavy (i.e., occasional lifting of 100 or more pounds, & frequent or constant lifting of 50 pounds). Also, the issue of fit is important given that current assignment opportunities for women have greatly increased, and given that typically the design envelope on a given dimension for most equipment has been the 5th to 95th percentile male. Inadequate matching of personnel capabilities and task assignments results in increased costs in the form of supplemental training, inadequate performance, and work-related injuries.