Basic recruit training: health risks and opportunities.

The present review examines the impact of basic recruit training on health and lifestyle. Many of those recruited begin training with a less than optimal lifestyle with respect to fitness, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, there is scope to enhance training programs that address fitness and lifestyle, minimizing potential losses in health and efficiency from upper respiratory infections, musculoskeletal injuries, cardiac catastrophes, mental disturbances, and adverse responses to extreme environments.