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Attrition in Italian Ranger trainees during special forces training program: a preliminary investigation

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Abstract

Purpose

This pilot observational study aimed at determining the causes of attrition during the Italian Army-Rangers training program identifying possible predictor characteristics.

Methods

In 103 male recruits (26 ± 2 years) we measured anthropometric and functional characteristics and monitored drop-out date and cause in the first 6 months of the program. The possible association of anthropometric or functional parameters with dropout was evaluated (unpaired t-test, successful vs dropouts).

Results

Anthropometric (body weight 77 ± 7 Kg, stature 178 ± 7 cm, fat mass 12 ± 3 %) and functional characteristics (2 km-run 448 ± 22 s, number of pull-ups 12 ± 3, number of dips 19 ± 5, number of push-ups in 60 s 41 ± 10, number of sit-ups in 60 s 45 ± 5) were similar to those reported in the literature for special forces in Europe. 42 recruits (41 %) abandoned the program, the main cause of dropout being voluntary withdraw for personal reasons (60 %); 30 % of recruits were excluded from the program for medical reasons; 10 % for technical reasons (e.g. fail of technical exams or physical requirements, discipline issues). Significant differences between successful and dropout groups were detected only in % of body fat (11 ± 3 vs 13 ± 3) and the number of pull-ups (12 ± 3 vs 11 ± 4).

Conclusions

Ours are the first available data on Italian Army-Ranger trainees. Our data suggest targeting individual motivation, self-efficacy and resilience upon admittance to the program as potential factors affecting dropout for personal reasons. Furthermore, optimal physical preparation practices (including gradual overload and injury prevention strategies) and optimal medical treatment could potentially reduce attrition for medical and technical reasons.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Italian Army and in particular to the 4° Ranger Regiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Alessandro L. Colosio, Federico Y. Fontana & Silvia Pogliaghi

Authors
  1. Alessandro L. Colosio
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  2. Federico Y. Fontana
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  3. Silvia Pogliaghi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silvia Pogliaghi.

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Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Department’s ethics committee and subjects signed an informed consent form.

Human and animal rights

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Colosio, A.L., Fontana, F.Y. & Pogliaghi, S. Attrition in Italian Ranger trainees during special forces training program: a preliminary investigation. Sport Sci Health 12, 479–483 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0299-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0299-4

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