Changes In Fitness Of U.S. Military Recruits

How do today’s military recruits stack up to the recruiting class of 1975? A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research offers some perspective with an analysis of 53 articles published over a span of 38 years.
 
According to the findings, body weight didn’t change very much, although body mass index, body fat and muscle mass increased over time. Maximal oxygen consumption, which is an important measurement of fitness, remained steady for males, and slightly improved for females. Endurance performance during 1 and 2 mile runs decreased while muscular strength increased.