History Military forces have emphasized fitness since ancient times. In 1860 , Archibald MacLaren opened a gymnasium at the University of Oxford, England and instituted a training regimen for  12 military officials at the university. This regimen was assimilated into the training of the British Army, which formed the Army Gymnastic Staff in 1860 and made sport an important part of military life. The term "boot" originates from U.S. Navy and Marine recruits in the Spanish–American War (1898) who wore leggings called boots; these recruits were trained in "boot" camps. Military-style training was used in the nineteenth century to rehabilitate civilian prisoners in the United States and for U.S. military prisoners during World War 2.
History Military forces have emphasized fitness since ancient times. In 1860 Archibald MacLaren opened a gymnasium at the University of Oxford, England and instituted a training regimen for Captain Frederick Hammersley and 12 non-commissioned officersat the university. This regimen was assimilated into the training of the British Army, which formed the Army Gymnastic Staff in 1861 and made sport an important part of military life. The term "boot" originates from U.S. Navy and Marine recruits in the Spanish–American War (1898) who wore leggings called boots; these recruits were trained in "boot" camps. Military-style training was used in the nineteenth century to rehabilitate civilian prisoners in the United States and for U.S. military prisoners during World War 2.
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A
Captain Frederick Hammersley and
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military officials at
non-commissioned officersat
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1860
1861