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13ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL TRAINING IN AIRBORNE TROOPS, BASIC DIRECTIONS OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT
D.V. Chernov
Military Institute of physical culture, St. Petersburg
A.A. Borisov, associate professor, Ph.D.
Military Institute (Engineering Technical) of Military Academy of Material and Technical Maintenance Named by General of the Army A.V. Khrulev, St. Petersburg
Key words: physical training, Airborne Troops, physical training manual, content of physical training.
Abstract. The article provides a retrospective analysis of physical training of servicemen of the Airborne troops, based on guidance documents since the founding of the airborne infantry and up to the present.
Relevance. Currently, the Airborne troops are in the process of continuous development: the latest models of weapons and military equipment come into operation with the updates of the objectives of different categories of military personnel and units, including the special objectives of physical training. All this requires further improvement of physical training.
The task of the research was to study and analyze the development of physical training in the Airborne troops.
The purpose of the study was to identify the ways of further improvement of the system of physical training.
Materials and methods. The following research methods were used: analysis of guidance documents of the Ministry of Defense, theses and researches carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; mathematical data processing and statistical analysis.
Results and discussion. The results will be used to further improve the system of physical training of the Airborne troops.
The history of the Airborne troops in our country begun on August 2nd, 1930 with the landing of the first armed paratroopers led by L. Minov and Ya. Moskovskiy. This is considered the date of creation of the Airborne troops and it is widely celebrated in our country. Since that time Airborne troops went through a difficult way of its formation and development [14].
Over the years of existence of the Airborne troops the people got the impression that a paratrooper is physically strong, brave, determined and ready to fight the enemy at any moment.
And it is proved by the fact that in the Airborne troops special attention is paid to the moral and psychological and physical training [17].
The theoretical analysis of the guidance documents on the organization of physical training (PT) in the Airborne troops showed that physical training has been continuously developing since the moment of their creation and up to now.
However, according to further approval, some of the introduced changes appear to be unjustified and new means and methods of physical training are required.
In order to improve the system of physical training we have analyzed in detail the content of the guidance documents of the Ministry of Defense, theses and researches carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to consider the existing experience.
The analysis of the guidance documents on physical training (PTM-48,54) showed that the specificity of the Airborne units and subunits is not taken into account [1]. At the same time the qualification results of this period enable us to conclude the following: - the level of organization and conduct of physical training didn't provide the sufficient development of qualities and skills needed in the battle; - little attention was paid to the endurance, strength and speed exercises and the exercises for the development of necessary volitional qualities; - the planning of physical training didn't provide the proper mastering of skills in hand-to-hand fight, swimming and skiing; - in the course of other subjects of combat training, physical training was occasional; - sports activities were stopped in winter time and during the period of jumps; -military sports events were rare [18].
Later, with the approval of the Manual (PTM-59,66) these significant drawbacks were gradually eliminated, first, the specific objectives were determined and then a great deal of special exercises was introduced in order to attain these objectives [2,3].
This is due to the efforts of the scientists of Military Institute of Physical Culture who developed the concept of special orientation of physical training (L.A. Weidner-Dubrovin, 1961; T.T. Dzhamgarov, 1961; N.V. Zimkin, 1960; A.V. Korobkov, 1962; V.L. Marishchuk, 1958). Subsequently, it was reflected in the features of physical training of the Airborne troops (A.I. Goncharov, 1967; V.P. Gilev, 1982; V.M. Knyazev 1985).
A new stage in the development of the Airborne troops began with the "age" of V.F. Margelov - the legendary commander of the Airborne Troops (1954 - 1959; 1961 - 1979) [15]. This period is characterized by the reequipment of the Airborne aviation; the introduction of new combat vehicles; the continuous improvement of parachute systems; the change of warfare tactics and the role of physical training of paratroopers. "Paratrooper №1", "Gaffer" as he was called by his colleagues, Margelov laid a stable foundation due to which his creation - the
Airborne troops - has become the most mobile and deployable combat arm, the elite of the Armed Forces.
In the 60s, by the order of V.F. Margelov rugby was introduced in the training of paratroopers, military hand-to-hand fight arises as a sport, which in the future will be an integral part of the combat training of paratroopers [13].
In 1963, by the order of the Commander of Land Forces at the Ryazan Combined Arms School the CSPC (Central Sports Parachute Club) was established. The athletes of the club were engaged in testing of new types of parachutes, which subsequently went into service of the Airborne troops [9]. Since then, the Commander of the Airborne troops was assigned to organize skydiving activities and their supervision within the Armed Forces.
In 1964, the Airborne troops passed to the control of Minister of Defense of the USSR and the PTM-66 already contained the special objectives for paratroopers, which were revised and agreed by V.F. Margelov, along with the set of multi-purpose exercises, aimed at achievement of general and special objectives of physical training [3], namely:
- the preferential development of endurance and speed;
- the development of the skills of show jumping, grenade throwing, attack and self-defense, swimming in uniform and with weapons, river crossing;
- the preparation for ski marches and quick marches;
- the preferential development of determination, courage, initiative, resourcefulness and the improvement of emotional stability;
- the improvement of resistance to aerial sickness;
- the strengthening of the musculoskeletal system.
The special objectives were changed in later Manuals (PTM-78, 87, 2001) as well as the set of related exercises [4, 5, 6]. The point is that the number of agility exercises has been significantly reduced since the PTM-78, primarily due to the influence of the military-technical revolution. The emergence of new types of weapons and military equipment unduly shifted the emphasis in the views on the role of acrobatic and agility exercises that, in turn, negatively affected the attainment of the special objective of physical training - resistance to aerial sickness and shock loads on musculoskeletal system.
In 1967, teacher of Military Institute of Physical Culture A.I. Goncharov developed the concept of special orientation of physical training for Airborne troops and the features of hand-to-hand fight training for paratroopers that was approved by Commander of the Airborne troops V.F. Margelov [12].
The emergence of new types of weapons and equipment led to an increase in the requirements for military experts, including the issues of physical fitness. The goal of physical
training of that period was to train servicemen with strong moral and physical qualities, who could skillfully defend their homeland [11]. The fundamentals of the organization and the methodology of physical training of paratroopers were reflected in the Airborne Troops Sergeant Textbook of 1975, in which the forms and means of physical training of military personnel in the Airborne troops were defined [10].
In the 80s, Airborne troops were massively used in Afghanistan, that caused constant changes in the tactics and weapons [19]. But the approved during this period PTM-87 provided the meager selection of exercises - only 13 - for inclusion in the program of physical training of conscripts and officers of the 1 and 2 age groups, cadets and officers of the 3-6 age groups (Fig.1, 2) [5]. We believe, the list of recommended exercises didn't provided the achievement of the objectives of physical training of paratroopers, having just three exercises for the development of basic physical qualities (strength, speed and agility).
However, the proposed sequence of exercise mastering was reasonable. The focus was on the development of overall endurance, the improvement of functional status and general physical fitness, and then, on the background of good physical training, special skills and abilities were cultivated in paratroopers. But, the provided time was not enough for this.
In that period, the following elements of physical training of the Airborne troops were first considered: - special objectives; - a list of basic exercises; the features of planning process; -the features of training facilities; - main types of training sessions; - the features of the organization and conduct of comprehensive training, hand-to-hand fight, morning exercises, sports activities and physical training; - the features of the organization of physical training when preparing for combat operations and exercises.
In the 90s, the Airborne troops were involved in many local conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Transnistria, Chechnya and in lots of peacekeeping operations. And then came the reforms: - the reduction of arms supply; - the reduction of troop numbers; - financial problems; - the drop in the attractiveness of military service. But thanks to the competent leaders, strong patriotism and the foundation laid in the Soviet period, the Airborne troops survived and remained the most mobile arm of the RF Armed Forces.
In our opinion, the PTM-2001 provides the most detailed analysis of the orientation of physical training for the Airborne troops and the algorithm of using the means, techniques and forms of physical training [6], in which special attention was paid to the organization and conduct of all forms of physical training, including specific section - preparation for tactical exercises and combat operations. There were also defined mandatory exercises to be included in all forms of physical training (quick marches with show jumping and hand-to-hand fight), as well as the orientation and content of physical training in the Airborne training centers. And for
these centers the conformity of the content and stages of the preparatory and combat physical training was defined in detail.
The content of the programs changed both quantitatively and qualitatively (Fig. 1, 2) along with the categories of servicemen with individual training programs.
At the present stage with the introduction of new weapons and military equipment and change in the tactics of warfare the requirements for physical fitness of servicemen of the Airborne troops have also changed. All of this became the precondition for a more detailed study of the requirements of modern warfare for various specialties and units and for changes in training program.
The next PTM - 2009 dramatically changed the system of control and evaluation, whereby all special objectives and features of methodology and content of physical training were then reflected in the Guide to the Physical Training of the Armed Forces and Combat Arms [7, 8].
In order to provide quality training, the servicemen of the Airborne troops were divided into categories, each training in accordance with special objectives:
- the personnel of the Airborne troops (including air assault units), special forces and intelligence units;
- the personnel of anti-aircraft and artillery military units and subunits, military units and tactical support elements - their objectives were defined more specifically as Airborne formations have their own artillery and SAM regiments, and military units - artillery and air defense missile battalions. The tactical support elements include engineering, communication and landing support elements;
- the personnel of the units of material, technical and medical care.
Our studies suggest that this division is fully consistent with the specificity of training and with the formation of physical readiness to perform combat and other tasks in accordance with the unit missions [17].
The changes in specialization of physical training influence the content of training programs for servicemen of the Airborne troops. Therefore, at this stage a separate program of physical training needs to be elaborated for servicemen of anti-aircraft and artillery military units and subunits, and for the military units and tactical support elements.
35 '
30 ■
25
20
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TL
M
27
25
15 ■
m
10
PTM -66 PTM -78
PTM -87 PTM -2001 PTM -2009
Fig. 1 The dynamics of changes in the number ofphysical exercises for servicemen of the
Airborne troops
6 6
T P
8 7
T P
7
8
T P
M0 i ° Eh
9 0 0 2
applied military skills
endurance
agility
strength
speed
Fig. 2. The dynamics of changes in the number of physical exercises aimed at development of physical qualities and applied military skills
Conclusions
The theoretical analysis of the literature and guidance documents leads to the following
conclusions:
1. Since new weapons and military equipment came into operation and warfare tactics changed, the physical fitness requirements for servicemen of the Airborne troops were constantly improved;
2. Sometimes special objectives of physical training of the Airborne troops were changed, supplemented, some non-specific qualities developed using other subjects of combat training of paratroopers were excluded from them;
3. At all stages of development of the Airborne troops, physical training was used to improve the paratrooper's resistance to aerial sickness and shock loads, but at the present stage there are no specific exercises to solve this problem in the guidance documents;
4. The content and amount of physical exercises to be included in the program of physical training for military airborne troops was constantly changing. At the current stage the focus is on the development and improvement of applied military motor skills and strength abilities;
5. Currently, there is an objective need to develop and implement the program of physical training for military artillery elements and military units of the airborne troops. The program of training artillerymen of the army cannot be used to train artillery elements and parts of the airborne troops because of the contradictions that arise in organizing and conducting of combat training.
References
1. Obvintsev, A.A. Theoretical analysis of functioning of physical training programs for servicemen of the Airborne troops / A.A. Obvintsev, A.A. Borisov, D.V. Chernov / Aktual'nye problemy fizicheskoy i spetsial'noy podgotovki silovykh struktur. - St. Petersburg: MIPC, 2014. - № 2. - P. 5-14. (In Russian)
2. Chernov, D.V. The features of physical fitness of servicemen of airborne troops / D.V. Chernov // Abstracts of the final scientific conference in 2012. - St. Petersburg: MIPC, 2012. - 58 P. (In Russian)
Corresponding author: [email protected]
