The University of Chicago

PHYSICAL PREPAREDNESS PRUGRAM FUR ali

For twenty years school and college physical education has been geared for
peace. Emphasis has been centered largely upon social outcomes, recreational
values, and the developing of interest and skill in leisure time play activities
useful throughout life. In time of war ohysical education, like all education,
must change its direction. It must be geared for war.

Army and Navy authorities report that their recruits are so soft and under-
developed physically that the completion of basic training is being seriously de-
layed by the necessary physical conditioning process. A major portion of the
first six to twelve weeks training is devoted to physical training and athletic
competition designed to develop the strength, endurance, agility and spirit
essential to a fighting man.

Physical fitness has taken on a new significance for civilians as well as
soldiers. Civilians are working under increased pressure and nervous strain. It
is especially important that they protect their health by getting adequate sleep,
food, and recreation. The best type of recreation tor sedentary workers is vigor-
ous exercise in the open. Moreover this emergency will require civilians to per-
form physical acts to which they are unaccustomed. It has been found that only
ten to fifteen per cent of those appointed to certain civilian defense jobs are
physically capable of performing their assigned duties in case of air raids. The
inability of the average American to walk long distances without fatigue is a
serious condition that should be corrected.

Representatives of various governmental agencies, including the Army and
the Navy, have requested that schools, colleges, and various civilian agencies

- broaden and step up their physical education and athletic programs in order that

time may be saved in basic military training. Many universities are inaugurating
universal physical activity requirements affecting ali men students. The Univer-
sity of Chicago would prefer to accomplish the same end by voluntary participation
rather than by a requirement. The administration and the department of physical
education urge most strongly that all students, faculty and employees consider it

& patriotic duty to put themselves and keep themselves as fit as possible for what-
ever they may be called upon to do. All men of draft age and under, unless sure
that they cannot qualify for military service, should get ready for the heavy
physical grind of military life. By so doing they will prepare themselves to enjoy
the vigorous army life and they will be more likely to qualify for promotion in the
ranks or an opportunity to receive officer training. Men who enter while soft and
under-developed will probably be placed in developmental or weak squads, and there-
by forfeit all chance for early promotion.

It is especially important that young men of superior educational training
make an effort to develop their physical capabilities to the utmost. It is their
duty to do so because their educational background qualifies them for consideration
as prospective officers. To back up this assumption the individual must have the
stamina as well as knowledge to justify his selection as a leader.

Every man whose health status places no restriction on his taking vigorous
exercise is urged:

1. To take the test of physical fitness offered by the department of
physical education. This test is made up of items selected from the Arny,
Navy, and Air Corps tests.