Memorandum Concerning the Bill to Provide for the Establishment of a
National Physical Fitness Institute, and for other purposes.

Considering the type of director necessary for this position I feel
that he should be one who is qualified not only from the academic point of
view but qualified in the light of experience and in the light of a sound
philosophy of physical education.

The sound philosophy which I have in mind would be based upon his’
knowledge and understanding of the scope of this movement. The procedure for
promoting physical fitness would naturally start with some form of an accept-
able health examination, the content of which would be Saterniand ibe Ameri-
can Medical Association. The material contained in Form B, enclosed, might
be used as a guide, The Surgeon General in conference with the army medical
authorities could no doubt arrive at a satisfactory health examination pro-
cedure. This would be necessary in light of the first draft experience
wherein there wasn't much standardization of procedure for examinations,
There is the need for some classification by the medical examiners wherein,
with definite criteria agreed upon, a certain number could be passed as being
fit for Class A, or vigorous army life. This no doubt would have to be a
slight modification of the now existent aviation setup. Another group would
be composed of those who would be acceptable for lighter forms of army occu-
pations. No doubt another group or groups would be classified for even less
arduous tasks, Four groups would be sufficient.

Here we need something in the way of a physical fitness test which
would really show the individual's physical condition in the light of his
being able to pass certain skills involving, for example, fundamental activ-
ities such as running, climbing, throwing, aquatic activities, skill on gyn-
nastic apparatus, etc. I do not think there would be much difficulty in se-

curing a valid physical fitness test with such men as Larson of Springfield