Physical performance
3‐RM
A battery of physical performance tests was completed during each phase, as previously described (Varanoske et al., The vertical jump test was used to evaluate lower‐body power (Vertec, Jump USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Participants completed a series of three maximal countermovement jumps by flexing their knees and hips, moving downward, and extending their knees and hips rapidly while swinging up their dominant arm to touch the highest vane on the Vertec. Jump height from the jump in which participants reached the greatest height was used in the analysis.A three repetition maximum (3‐RM) trap bar deadlift was used to assess total body muscular strength in accordance with the U.S. Army Combat Fitness Test (Department of the Army Headquarters, The Wingate test was used to measure anaerobic capacity. Participants were positioned on an electronically braked cycle ergometer (Excalibur Sport, Lode, The Netherlands) equipped with software (Lode Ergometry Manager software version 10.11.0, Lode B.V., Lode, The Netherlands) and began pedaling for 5 min at 50 W. On “Go,” participants increased their cadence to 90 rpm, and a fixed resistance based off body mass, cycle cadence, and torque factor was added to the bike. Participants were instructed to pedal maximally for the duration of the 30s test. Absolute peak power was recorded, as the reported decrease in body mass from PRE to POST artificially influenced relative peak power measures.Peak aerobic capacity (i.e., VOA 4‐km (2.5 mile) outdoor timed ruck march (e.g., backpack load carriage) was completed while wearing a 31.3 kg rucksack to assess military‐relevant aerobic endurance. Total time to complete the march was recorded.