Physical training has played a significant role in combat operations in all eras, providing soldiers with endurance, strength, and ability to survive in order to successfully complete combat missions. Knowledge of the historical peculiarities of the physical training system as part of military personnel training, its changes under the influence of various factors allows us to assess the importance and impact of physical training on the combat effectiveness of the modern army and navy, which can contribute to the analysis and design of up-to-date military training programs. The review describes the role of physical training in as part of combat training and education of Russian soldiers over a long period of its military history. Dialectical materialist and basic empirical methods were employed to study and analyze scientific papers and educational sources. As combat concepts and methods developed, approaches to combat training for military personnel also changed. The gradual establishment of the combat training system began to be accompanied by physical training and the need to improve the physical strength of soldiers. With the reforms of Peter the Great, physical training began to be used for practical military purposes and secured its esteemed place in the system of combat training. Physical training plays a vital role in developing a strong character in military personnel and also improves their combat effectiveness metrics, depending on professional tasks and training programs. The most effective branches of physical training are those that have practical relevance for military and professional skills of military personnel.