'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT

By Staff Sgt. Armando LimonMarch 23, 2017

'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
1 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Neil Santiago, an athletic trainer and conditioning specialist at Schofield Barracks Health Clinic's Physical Therapy Department, teaches proper running form at Martinez Gym on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 13, 2017. Santiago is training Soldi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
2 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Darnell Hines (left), a squad leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, pulls into a run while Spc. Dane Trudeau, a combat medic assigned to 2nd Bn., 35th Inf. Regt., 3rd BCT... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
3 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Dane Trudeau (left), a combat medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, pulls into a run while Spc. Dane Trudeau, a combat medic assigned to 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 3rd BCT, 25th ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
4 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Neil Santiago (right), an athletic trainer and conditioning specialist at Schofield Barracks Health Clinic's Physical Therapy Department, teaches endurance and mobility training at Watts Field on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 13, 2017. Soldier... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
5 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, perform endurance and mobility training at Watts Field on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 13, 2017. The Soldiers participated in a week-long Advanced Physical Training course.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
6 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Neil Santiago, an athletic trainer and conditioning specialist at Schofield Barracks Health Clinic's Physical Therapy Department, a practical lab on creating a physical fitness program at Martinez Gym on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 14, 2017.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
7 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Matthew Lester, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to 3rd Squadron, 3th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, perform side ab crunches to test his physical fitness plant at Martinez Gym on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
8 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Theodore Doogan, a combat medic assigned to the 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, performs box jumps to test his physical fitness plant at Martinez Gym on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 14, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
9 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Troy Dingley, a weapons squad leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, performs box jumps to test his physical fitness plant at Martinez Gym on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
10 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conducts aquatic training by doing bicycle kicks as a warm up at Richardson Pool on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 15, 2017. The Soldiers participated in a weeklong Advanced ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
11 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Darnell Hines, a squad leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conducts aquatic training at Richardson Pool on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 15, 2017. The physical t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
12 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Kyler Hanstead, an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conducts aquatic training by performing squat jumps at Richardson Pool on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 15,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
13 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lillian Gallaher (right), a health educator, asks Pfc. Connor Robison, a fire team leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, his rate of exertion while he tests his maximal oxygen consu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
14 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Connor Robinson, a fire team leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, tests his maximal oxygen consumption by using a VO2 max machine at the Army Wellness Center on Schofield Barr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Broncos' push fitness to edge with advanced PT
15 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Dane Trudeau, a combat medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, is having body composition measured by using air displacement plethysmography machine known as a BOD POD at the Army... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - In the early dawn hour, on March 13, Soldiers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, "Broncos," 25th Infantry Division, conducted endurance and mobility training through the foggy mist at Watts Field, here.

The Bronco Soldiers were participating in a weeklong Advanced Physical Training course as part of Consolidated Skills training being held throughout the brigade.

"We have 25 Soldiers who are with us," said Capt. Charles Rettig, a physical therapist assigned to 3rd BCT's Physical Therapy Department, U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks. "We're taking the Soldiers through the exercises and techniques that they need to do to better learn and to maximize their potential as combat athletes."

The biggest piece that Rettig wanted to impart was to have the Soldiers be empowered to use the skills and lessons learned, so they could take them back to their units to enhance and improve physical readiness training (PRT).

"Everyone we have today is an advanced leader," he said. "It means that they have gone through normal physical training, and we want to take them to that next level in terms of performing faster and do this without getting hurt."

The Soldiers learned strength and mobility, performance nutrition, aquatic training, measuring body composition by using the air displacement plethysmography machine known as a BOD POD, and testing their maximal oxygen consumption by using a VO2 max machine.

Neil Santiago, an athletic trainer and conditioning specialist at USAHC-SB's Physical Therapy Department taught the Soldiers throughout the week on proper exercise techniques.

"We're looking at human performance as a whole as it relates to the tactical athlete," Santiago said. "So what can we do to improve overall performance in regards to APFT, overall strength conditioning."

Santiago wanted to show the Soldiers how to develop programs that are well balanced during physical fitness training to prevent injury. He understood while Soldiers go through the PT during the normal day, Soldiers had a tendency to injure themselves through repetitive stress, along with improper posture, which results in injury to the Soldier.

He further elaborated the training was focused on the basics and foundations on physical fitness for when Soldiers perform their daily PT routine.

The Soldiers who participated found they had learned much during the Advanced Physical Training course.

"I learned how to set up a systematic PT process, as opposed to just going through regular PRT and taking it further, putting it into taking what we've learned and so we can get a tactical advantage out of it as well," said Staff Sgt. Darnell Hines, a squad leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Inf. Regiment, 3rd BCT.

Hines said he found he needed to focus more on the structure of PRT and learning a better approach to see improved results.

"Its great training overall," he said. "It's actually a lot better than I thought it was going to be, and I'll be able to take these lessons back to my unit."