Final answer:
The Army Physical Readiness Training Preparation Drill used as a warm-up involves performing one set of 5 repetitions of each exercise. This helps ensure soldiers are physically prepared and disciplined, mirroring practices like those in Air Force basic training for uniformity and control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Army Physical Readiness Training Preparation Drill can indeed be used as a warm-up activity to help prevent muscle damage from overexertion. Specifically, the correct method to use this preparation drill as a warm-up activity is to perform one set of 5 repetitions of each exercise included in the drill. This method, which is designated as option A, ensures appropriate muscle conditioning and readiness for the demands of physical training. Options B and C, which mention doing part of the class in a circle and each session beginning and ending with centering, respectively, are not standard practice for the Army Physical Readiness Training Preparation Drill as per your question, and thus are not relevant to the specified warm-up activity.
The benefits of such drills, as described in historical documentation and military training practices, include both physical preparedness and the development of discipline and uniformity, as seen in the case of the Air Force training where recruits are taught to walk, move, and look like each other. The philosophy behind this type of training is that it produces individuals with prepared muscles and nerves, exemplifying strength and control, crucial for military effectiveness and the ability to respond to emergencies.