26 DEVELOPING LEADERS OF CHARACTER DPE’s Mission The Mission of the Physical Education Program is to educate, train, and inspire the Corps by challenging each Cadet in activities that promote holistic health and optimal physical performance to commission leaders of character who are physically fit and mentally tough. The Physical Program USMA’s Physical Program provides a rigorous, iterative, and developmental physical education curriculum, routine fitness testing, and required competitive sports participation. Cadets are challenged to maintain optimal levels of physical readiness and develop the movement skills necessary to meet the demands of military training and combat. The Physical Program is an integral part of character development and is foundational to the military development of future officers who consistently pursue excellence. Physical Education Curriculum The Physical Education Curriculum is a mix of physical activity courses and fitness education courses. During Cadets’ Fourth-Class (freshman) year, Cadets enroll in two classes: Boxing and Fundamentals of Personal Fitness. Boxing requires Cadets to display the Warrior Ethos necessary to engage an opponent through controlled aggression. Fundamentals of Personal Fitness exposes Cadets to the Army’s Holistic Health & Fitness (H2F) system allowing them to establish their personal fitness ideology. In the Third-Class (sophomore) year, Cadets enroll in Military Movement and Survival Swimming. Military Movement is an applied gymnastics course that gives Cadets the kinesthetic foundation necessary to move effectively on a battlefield. Survival Swimming requires Cadets to develop the critical skills and composure necessary to endure in a dynamic aquatic environment. Cadets are enrolled in Combat Applications and Army Fitness Development during their Second-Class (junior) year. Combat applications provides a capstone combatives experience that aligns with the Army’s Modern Army Combatives Program. Army Fitness Development requires Cadets to design, assess, and implement mission-focused physical readiness training to optimize unit performance. In Cadets’ First-Class (Senior) year, they will engage in one of many Lifetime Physical Activity courses, such as Strength Development, Aerobic Fitness, Rock climbing, Skiing, Basketball, SCUBA, and Level I Army Combatives. In addition to the Core Curriculum, qualified cadets may choose to major in Kinesiology. These select cadets provide the Army with breadth and depth in human movement, performance, and optimization.
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