MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| VA Loans
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

ACFT Ensures Soldiers Are Lethal, Physically Conditioned For Multi-Domain Operations

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 – The Army’s most important weapons system is the Soldier. To overmatch the enemy in multi-domain operations, Soldiers must demonstrate physical fitness levels required for combat.

The Army Combat Fitness Test ensures that Soldiers are physically conditioned for that fight. The ACFT will improve lethality, transform the Army’s physical fitness culture, reduce preventable injuries and associated attrition, and enhance Soldier mental toughness and stamina.

“At the end of the day we need Soldiers who are deployable, lethal and ready,” said Secretary of the Army Mark Esper during a Defense Writers Group breakfast in August.

The age- and gender-neutral ACFT is part of the Army’s evolving Holistic Health and Fitness System to generate lethal Soldiers who are physically ready and mentally tough.

The ACFT and how it nests into the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness initiative, or H2F, is the focus of a Warriors’ Corner during the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The “Role of ACFT in the Holistic Health and Fitness System” takes place Monday, Oct. 8, 5:15-5:45 p.m. Eastern time, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

“The ACFT will ignite a professional cultural change in Army fitness and become a cornerstone of individual Soldier combat readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost, commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Center for Initial Military Training, or CIMT.

Frost will present at the ACFT Warriors Corner, with CIMT’s research physiologist Whitfield “Chip” East on hand as a subject matter expert. (CIMT is the Army’s H2F proponent.) Frost will outline the road to the ACFT, how the ACFT nests into H2F, how physical fitness is a readiness enabler, and the fielding of an updated Physical Readiness Training field manual that will be renamed Holistic Health and Fitness (FM 7-22).

The ACFT role in H2F will also be the subject of TRADOC’s Army Exhibit kiosk during the AUSA meeting Oct. 8-10. Subject matter experts will be on hand and attendees can use ACFT equipment to test their abilities on several of the ACFT events.

BACKGROUND
The Army announced in July that the ACFT will become the physical fitness test of record no later than October 2020. The test complies with the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act without differential standards or evaluation by gender.

Direct work on the ACFT started in 2013 with an empirical study of high physical demands for common Soldier tasks. Extensive scientific research by U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and CIMT validated specific physical fitness test events that measure all components of fitness relating to combat physical requirements. Those components are muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, speed, aerobic endurance, agility, balance, flexibility, coordination and reaction time.

Pilot testing took place 2017-2018, when the test was originally known as the Army Combat Readiness Test. The Army used the pilots to validate the order and direction for the individual events to ensure the ACFT can be used Army-wide.

The ACFT events include: 3-repetition strength deadlift; standing power throw; hand release push-up; 250-meter sprint, drag, carry; leg tuck; and 2-mile run.

IMPLEMENTATION
ACFT implementation begins Oct. 1 with Army-wide field tests. Within the next year, approximately 60 battalion-sized units representing Active, Reserve and National Guard will take a not-for-record ACFT. Mobile training teams will conduct site visits and provide ACFT training to master fitness trainers at each participating unit.

During field testing, the Army will collect feedback from the field, procure and field ACFT equipment, and validate test administration instructions, minimum time standards and current scoring. The data will support future policy-related decisions such as potential alternate events for Soldiers with physical profiles.

The Army will also determine whether to administer the test based on unit occupational physical demands or by a Soldier’s military occupational specialty. Approximately half of the units participating in the field test will use unit-type scoring and the other half will use MOS scores.

Scoring is based on three levels: Black (heavy MOS physical demands, such as Infantry and Armor), Grey (significant MOS physical demands, such as military police and combat medics) and Gold (moderate MOS physical demands such as logistical specialists and fire control repairers).

PREPARATION
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley did not mince words regarding the ACFT’s level of difficulty at the National Guard 140th General Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans last month, urging Soldiers to start preparing.

“Do. Not. Wait. This test is hard,” Milley said.

The Army recently released an ACFT field testing manual and ACFT training guide with exercises from FM 7-22 to help Soldiers successfully prepare for the test anytime, anywhere. Soldiers should already be training in the FM 7-22 strength and conditioning requirements, East said.

“The test measures all components of fitness and the best way to do well on the test is to train and prepare all of your body’s energy and performance systems,” East added. “That means not only working right, but eating right, resting right and being mentally prepared.”

By Stephanie Slater (TRADOC)

Comments

Filed Under: Army, Career, Enlist, Recruiting

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

Hicks Emphasizes Aptitude for Technology to ROTC Graduates

MAY 20, 2022 – Today’s ROTC graduates are more prepared to use the technologies the U.S. is developing and employing than ever before, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks told the National Capital Region’s graduating ROTC class today. That’s great news for the military because such preparation will be crucial in meeting the challenges the […]

Is the Army Reserve Calling You?

APRIL 27, 2022 – Graduating high school is a momentous achievement culminating in years of hard work and dedication. It also presents one of the most challenging questions many people will face in their life, “What do I do now?” Many high school students struggle with what they should do next, joining the workforce or […]

NEXCOM’s NEXT Gen Scholars Program Support Students

MAY 17, 2022 – The Navy Exchange Service Command’s (NEXCOM) NEXT gen Scholars Program offers qualified students the opportunity to win $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 or $500 each quarter for earning good grades in school. The next drawing is at the end of June 2022. To enter the drawing, students must be full-time with a “B” […]

How to Live as a Civilian After Active Duty

MAY 20, 2022 – When you were on active duty, money might not have been a huge issue. You lived on base, ate at the mess hall, and didn’t have any outstanding debt. Life was far different than what you lived prior to entering the service. But now that your time in the military is […]

DoD Authorizes Temporary Increase to 2021 BAH Rates

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 – The Department of Defense has temporarily authorized increases in the 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for 56 housing markets (commonly referred to as Military Housing Areas, MHAs) across the U.S. Uniformed service members who have incurred increased housing costs above their current BAH may be eligible to apply and […]

Recent Posts

  • Upgrading Your Rifle: 6 Considerations to Have in Mind
  • Hicks Emphasizes Aptitude for Technology to ROTC Graduates
  • Alliances Will Be Key to Success in the Indo-Pacific
  • How to Live as a Civilian After Active Duty
  • NATO Addresses Security in Wake of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
MAINMENU




SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2022 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.