Health profiling, including physical development and fitness, among the Orenburg region citizens applying for contract military service in the Armed Forces of Russia

Relevance. Russia’s national security is constantly exposed to military threats from a number of unfriendly states. The current international realities compel modern Russia to focus on defense capacity building as its major strategic priority. Since December 1, 2024, the Russian Armed Forces (AF) have increased the army and navy corps by 180,000 military professionals through contract service recruitment.

The study objective is to assess the health indicators, physical development and fitness among the Orenburg region citizens applying for contract military service in the Armed Forces of Russia.

Methods. The study analyses medical data provided by the Military Commissariat of the Orenburg region for the 2014 to 2023 timespan. Medical examinations were conducted in accordance with the Regulation on Military Medical Examination. June 1, 2023 through October 1, 2023, physical development and fitness was assessed in 500 randomly selected applicants for contract military service. The results were evaluated according to the Manual on Physical Training in the Russian Armed Forces. The evaluation criteria included proportional chest development, strength and vitality indices, body fat content, and overall physique strength. Physical fitness was tested through pull–ups and running exercises over distances of 100 and 1,000 meters. The representativeness of the sample was determined using the A.M. Merkov and L.E. Polyakov formula.

Results and discussion. As a result of medical examinations conducted over a decade, a total of 12,902 individuals (88.8 %) were identified as fit for contract military service (i. e. A and B categories), including 68.8 % as A category and 20 % as B category. In general, the key physical development parameters were positive, with applicants meeting or outperforming the physical fitness standards, especially when performing exercises requiring muscle strength, speed, and endurance.

Conclusion. Medical assessment results showed a generally good health status, adequate physical development and fitness of citizens applying for contract military service in the Russian Armed Forces.

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