The Physical Education Pillar - Withers Report

Report of the RMC Board of Governors By the Withers' Study Group
Balanced Excellence Leading Canada's Armed Forces In The New Millenium
4500-240 (ADM (HR-Mil))
24 September 1998

Cross-reference p. 51 of 63 of official printed copy of report

The formal physical education program at RMC is a good one. In fact, RMC standards are considerably higher than in the CF as a whole. This is as it should be. However, there are two areas of concern and one where a slight change in orientation is desirable. Today, there is little motivation to exceed standards, reflecting a failure of many cadets to view exemplary physical fitness as an integral component of leadership. At the same time, we heard considerable anecdotal evidence that failure to fully achieve even the minimum standard is sometimes overlooked. This clearly raises ethical problems for the institution and in the minds of cadets.

There is also very little linkage of the physical education program to a real world military context. Achieving this in a meaningful way is resource intensive, but would contribute to linking RMC more effectively with the CF as a whole. The recent initiative to introduce compulsory martial arts training for all cadets is a positive one. Other potential areas might be rappelling, scuba diving and parachuting.

The linkage between leadership, team spirit and coaching is not well established in the current program. Cadets passively experience this phenomenon but are not taught how to implement it when they graduate. In the past it was almost automatic at units that the RMC graduate be appointed sports officer or as coaches for a wide range of sports; this situation should be restored.

The Study Group Recommends:

Recommendation 26:

Communicate physical education standards to potential candidates early in the selection process. Include in this package instructions with regard to self-testing.

Recommendation 27:

Firmly establish physical fitness as a necessary component of leadership. Since the third and fourth years at RMC are the most focused on applied leadership, physical fitness standards for all cadets must be achieved by the end of second year before proceeding to MOC training.