In peace and war, military training has always taken up a large amount of the soldier's time. Before 1860, soldiers were only drilled in the detailed movements that might be required in battle.

Victorian reformers were concerned about the poor health of the nation's soldiers.

In 1860, 12 sergeants in Aldershot formed the Army Gymnastic staff and became instructors in physical training . From this point there developed two closely linked aspects of army life: physical training and sport.