Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Field-Based and Branch-Specific Physical Fitness Test Performance Over Time

Introduction: This study assessed changes in and relationships between field-based physical fitness and military-branch-specific annual physical fitness tests among Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps midshipmen. Methods: Data from 118 midshipmen (women = 18) were analyzed. Field tests included waist circumference, countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) (with arm-swing [CMJ AS ] and hands-on-hips [CMJ HoH ]), and estimated maximal oxygen consumption ( ) using a shuttle run test. Navy (United States Navy [USN]) testing involved pushups, planks, and a 1.5-mile run; Marine Corps (USMC) testing included pull-ups, planks or crunches, and a 3-mile run. Tests were performed in September, December, January, and April from 2021 to 2023. Data were analyzed for changes over time by linear mixed-effects models and the relationship of field-based testing with repeated measures correlations (α = 0.05). Results: Field-based tests revealed no time effects ( P > 0.05), and USMC consistently outperformed USN ( P < 0.05). Women had lower CMJ and estimated ( P < 0.05). Time effects in USN testing showed higher plank and total scores in juniors than freshmen ( P < 0.05). Weak correlations were found between CMJs and run times (CMJ AS r = −0.23, CMJ HOH r = −0.19), and between estimated and 1.5-mile run times (r = −0.33) and total score (r = 0.25). For USMC, a time effect was observed for crunch/plank scores, with higher scores in junior year compared with freshman year ( P = 0.022). Significant correlations were observed between CMJ AS and 3-mile run times (r = −0.23) and CMJ HOH and pull-up scores (r = 0.32). Conclusions: Slight improvements over time were observed in military performance assessments, while there were no changes observed in field-based testing measures. Women scored lower than men, yet surpassed average norms. Correlations underscore the role of muscular power in standard annual military testing. Physical fitness training must address both the sex-based gaps and the lack of improvement over time to enhance readiness in future USN officers.