you've got to be able to take it your body has got to be able to take it because service means new physical demands on strength and i'm sure it's that's why in military training you have to march long to hard manual labor use your body skillfully be ready for instant action withstand strains intentions live under all conditions be prepared for anything and everything are you ready physically for this training well when you enter service ready or not the physical training big immediately and it will go on every day it's going to be rough and rugged training to toughen you up if you aren't ready for it you're going to have more than your share of sore muscles aching feet exhaustion strain and awkwardness yes it can be tough for you if you aren't ready physically it can be a lot easier for you if you are and if you are ready later it may mean the difference between failure and success it may even mean saving a life yours or a buddy getting ready physically means beginning right now while you're still in school to get in condition how do you go about it first consider how much time you have to get ready a freshman has a good fo years he can plan a fairly extensive program for himself the same for a sophomore he has a good stretch of time to get in shape a junior has some time but not too much he has to work a little harder than the others as senior doesn't have much time to get ready but it can be done if each man takes personal responsibility for his physical condition the next step is a complete health examination and we mean complete don't be satisfied with just a quick check up eyes ears nose throat past reflexes abdominal organs skin feet these are some of the most important things to have above all your heart and lungs need examination have your chest x rays find out for sure about your health don't forget your teeth have been examined check up on your health and be ready to correct any health problems you have the third step in your program is to check your physical ability to help you do this as a set of physical achievement standards has been prepared by the armed forces committee of the american association for health physical education and recreation there minimum standards that help you check your physical condition think how well you would do now on the test here's one of them climb a fifteen foot rope in twenty seconds or less here's another do six or more dips on the parallel bars and you do six or more  at least forty five brought jump seven feet or more run three hundred yards in forty two seconds throw a softball one hundred seventy five feet float for at least two minutes swim forty yards or more step off a ten foot platform with your clothes on find out how you measure up to the standards and you'll have a good idea of your present physical ability now you know how much time you have you know what your general health is you know what your physical ability is you're all ready to plan and work for improvement have any defects corrected that showed up in your general exam if you have them taken care of now or they won't become big troubles in the future then work with your physical education teacher to plan your programme of physical development keep in mind you need to include ways to build strength strength that will be useful in many service jobs include activities the develop agility agility that will make a lot of the training much plan activities that will improve your skills skills that will be important later when you serve you'll need activities to build up in durance and durrance that will help to make your early days of service less painful and more profitable and be sure to include competitive sports sports that will give you the feeling of cooperation and striving to win your community as well as yours offers many opportunities for a well rounded program of physical activity take part in the program of your school and your community work regular exercise into your daily program so that you'll be on your way to all around good physical reading that's something that will help you and for the rest of your life another thing make it your responsibility to learn about and practice good health habits such as the right foods to eat to give you plenty of strength and energy the proper amount of rest you need for your daily activities the best ways to keep your body clean and free from disease make all these things your responsibility not after you've planned and worked for improvement take the physical achievement test again see how much you've improved over the last time see how much more skill strengthened and durrance you have developed a much easier it is to meet the standards of physical readiness and have the satisfaction of knowing that the physical requirements of service won't be too rough on you remember the steps consider how much time you have check up on your general health check up on your physical ability then i have defects corrected plans of your advisors take regular workouts and make good health habits your responsibility  into a good all round sports program that will help you to get in shape and keep you in good shape it's good health is a good investment in service a lot will depend on your physical ready start to get ready physically and when the time comes you'll take it in your stride