New training guide launched to revolutionise health of servicewomen

• New science-led performance guide for Servicewomen will transform how they train, fuel and recover for the most demanding military roles.
• World-first Defenceguide addresses the specific physiological needs of women under sustained physical stress.
• Newguide aims tocloseagender knowledgegap infemale-specificperformancedataand strengthenUK Armed Forces'operational effectiveness.

Servicewomen are set to have their fitness, nutrition and recovery revolutionised underaworld-first dedicated arduous training guide for womenin the Armed Forces.

Published today [10 July], the handbook delivers the first Defence-specific guidance on female physiology in military training, drawing on a decade of research and lived experience.

The launch of the guide-intended for immediate use in training and preparation- willensurewomenacross all three Services have sex-specific guidance in training requirements, nutritional support, and health protection, helping to boost theUK's warfighting readinessand effectiveness.

Authored by experts across Defence and drawing on tri-Service expertise, the guide provides practical guidance on training, sleep, nutrition, recovery and injury prevention, which have been gathered since the lifting of restrictions on women in ground close combat roles in 2016.

The handbook brings this evidence into practical guidance for servicewomen and those training them, maintaining existing high standards while ensuring personnel can meet them safely and perform at their best. It will be used across the Armed Forces to deliver a unified standard of support for women and help to address the historic gender data gap in Armed Forces training and performance.

The guidesetsa new global standard forperformanceof Servicewomeninthe toughest roles,such as:

• Trainingscience-backedprogrammes that optimise training and recovery for demanding tasks, such as carrying heavy equipment. These programmes account for women's training needs to ensure they meet the highestrequisite standards with minimal risk of injury.
• Nutrition-informednutritional targetsspecific to women's need for energy, protein,ironand vitamin D;
• Hormone health - support to hormone health through better sleep, menstrual cycle tracking, and guidance on hormonal contraceptives.  The Guide advises that servicewomen sleeping fewer than the recommended 79 hours per night face significantly elevated musculoskeletal injury risk.
• Kit - better-designed clothing, improved-fit body armour, innovative urination systems, emergency period products and disposal systems, and funded sports bras.

Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MBE MP, said:

Warfighting readiness depends on the strength,resilienceand preparation ofallour people. I know from my own service that women have always met thetoughest standards but too often without the tailored support theyrequire. 

"I'm proud that this guide marks a first for UK Defence - ensuring our servicewomen have the tailored, evidence-based support they need to perform at their best and succeed in the most demanding roles.

 
It is part of our commitment to ensure talent, not background or barriers, determines how far you can go in today's Armed Forces.

Professor Julie Greeves, Technical Research Director in Physiology, said:

"Historically, physical performance research has been based on male data. This guide changes that - giving servicewomen the tools to train smarter, reduce injury, and stay in service for longer."

Science of Human Performance: A guide for servicewomen preparing for arduous courseswas developed by the Army Health and Performance Research Team following years of pioneering research, including a pilot programmefollowing trainees and servicewomen from first selection to senior operational roles and tracking women in arduous roles.

Notes to Editors

The guide was authored by Dr Charlotte Coombs, Professor Julie Greeves, Ms Sarah Myers, Dr Thomas O'Leary, Dr Alex Rawcliffe, Ms Erin Robertson, and Ms Hannah Waters of Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, with contributions from specialists across Defence including the Institute of Naval Medicine and Stanford Hall.

The science: what the data revealed

• At the heart of the guide isrobustphysiological evidence base that will be of significant interest beyond the military. Researchers uncovered a series of striking insights that challenge assumptions about women's fitness and performance:
• Women make similarrelativestrength gains to men with structured training but need a minimum of six months to do it safely, as bone andconnective tissue adapt slowly.
• Stress fractures of the shin and hip are disproportionately common in women, butlargely preventablewith properprogressive preparation and strength work.
• Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread andoftenundetected. Women undertaking arduous training are at significantly elevated risk of iron, vitamin D, and calcium deficiency-each of which directly impairs performance, increases injury risk, and can disrupt hormonal function. Iron deficiency is the world's most common nutritional deficiency, and servicewomen who train hard are disproportionately affected.
• Women needaround 30g ofgood qualityproteinafter whole-bodyresistance exerciseto support their muscle growth. This is important becausewomen lift and carry heavy loads, notably in arduous roles.
• Women in military training need up to3,500 calories per day, nearly double thestandard guidance, with deficits up to 1,000caloriesper day recorded during hard training, directly degrading strength,cognition, and recovery.
• Sleep is a performance-critical resource. Servicewomen sleeping fewerthan sixhours per night are significantly more likely to sustain bone stress injuries and experience menstrual cycle disruption. Those averaging six hours face a fourfold increase in illness risk and more than double the risk of musculoskeletal injury compared to those sleeping over seven hours.
• The menstrual cycle is a vital sign. The guideidentifiesa normal menstrual cycleof 21 to 35 daysas the body's "fifth vital sign"-a direct indicator of overall physiological health. During military service, one in four non-pregnant women experience irregular or absent periods, and one in two report heavy menstrual bleeding, both of which signal performance-impairing hormonal imbalance.