WHAT IS P3T?

The Army’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training (P3T) program provides safe, standardized physical training and education designed to enable pregnant and postpartum Soldiers to maintain their health and fitness.

 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has been shown to especially benefit women during pregnancy and postpartum. Getting enough sleep, consistently participating in physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, and including stress management in your daily routine will help pregnant Soldiers maintain their health and fitness throughout their pregnancy and reduce physical discomforts. It is safe for Soldiers to continue or start most types of exercise during a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy. Physical activity does not increase risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or premature delivery. The benefits of exercise during pregnancy include:

DECREASED RISK OF
PREGNANCY-RELATED
MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS

 

REDUCED
BACK PAIN

 

HEALTHY WEIGHT
GAIN DURING
PREGNANCY AND
HEALTHY WEIGHT
LOSS AFTERWARDS

 

IMPROVED MAINTENANCE
OF OVERALL PHYSICAL
READINESS AND HEALTH

The postpartum component of P3T is designed to improve the readiness of postpartum Soldiers by focusing on regaining pre-pregnancy fitness levels for successful integration back to unit physical readiness training, with the goals of getting back to Army physical fitness and body composition standards within 365 days postpartum.

P3T POLICY

Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum) was published in April 2022 and incorporates evidence-based health and wellness guidance aimed at improving opportunities for Soldiers to advance their careers while providing the time and flexibility needed to care for growing families. The policy exempts pregnant and postpartum Soldiers from body composition standards and physical fitness testing for 365 days (12 months) after the conclusion of pregnancy (to include Soldiers who experience perinatal loss). Soldiers are also exempt from other regular unit physical readiness training requirements (such as diagnostic physical fitness tests, timed distance runs, timed distance ruck marches, and order of merit list (OML)-generating physical requirements) outside the P3T program for 180 days after the conclusion of pregnancy. After 180 days, Soldiers will return to regular unit fitness training. Modified activities within a Soldier’s limits, and as noted on the Soldier’s profile, are encouraged within the 180 days. Soldiers may elect an early release from the P3T program and return to their regular unit physical readiness training. Soldiers can volunteer to take any record physical fitness requirement within their exemption period without ending the exemption early.

P3T PROGRAM LEADER COURSE

 

The P3T Leader Course is a train-the-trainer course that provides guidance to personnel that have been designated to serve as P3T program coordinators. It covers the components required to establish and operate a consolidated P3T program for the installation, how to design and lead P3T exercise sessions, methods for training P3T exercise leaders, safety recommendations for pregnant and postpartum Soldiers, and data collection and reporting requirements.

 

Prospective students can reach out via email to usarmy.jble.imt.mbx.p3t@army.mil for more information on accessing the Phase 1 Distance Learning course and for guidance on enrollment into ATRRS.

 


 

 

 

 

PREREQUISITES

COURSE DATES
AND LOCATIONS

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