traits of a Roman legionary

[Carlton Bach]

There is no reason why all Roman soldiers would have well developed muscles.

Oh Jeez, come on! Anyone ever gone through boot camp? I put on 30 pounds of muscle in 10 weeks. It has tended to stay. I have also lazed around a tavern or two.

The problem is we do not know whether Roman soldiers all went through anything resembling 'boot', or how m,uch (or little) training they put in afterwards. Combat troops under the watchful eyes of diligent commanders would certainly match that idea. We know that discipline was not always up to the exacting standards of the senatorial imagination, though. Plus, we should probably not underestimate the importance of string-pulling, the appeal of noncombat duty and the effect of long stints of service away from camp.