The Army Combat Fitness Test is coming, is your unit ready?

Photo By Sgt. Michael Steed | Staff Sgt. Matthew Weller (left), Cpl. Jacob Brown (middle), and Sgt. Patrick Montgomery (right) assigned to the 170th Support Maintenance Company, Wichita, Kansas, found an obstacle course to practice the leg tuck, an event in the new Army Combat Fitness Test, during annual training in Fort Polk, Louisiana, May 23.  

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

05.23.2019

Story by Sgt. Michael Steed 

105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORT POLK, La.- It’s no secret that the Army has a new physical fitness test coming soon. The old test is being revamped and replaced by the Army Combat Fitness Test that will have six events rather than the current three. New events include three repetition maximum dead-lift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg tuck and two-mile run. The only event carried over from the old test is the two-mile run. The new test will give even the most physically fit Soldiers a run for their money.
“I am happy for a change,” said Sgt. Patrick Montgomery, assigned to the 170th Support Maintenance Company, Wichita, Kansas. “The old PT is getting boring,”
The ACFT had its first field tests in early October 2018 and the entire Army will be required to take two diagnostic ACFTs six months apart, beginning October 2019. With Guard and Reserve units only meeting once a month, leaders have faced additional hardships in adequately training Soldiers on the new events.
“General Mohatt pushed units to prepare for the 1st quarter diagnostic test, which caused me to backward plan for the ACFT,” said Capt. Sarah Patterson, commander of the 170th SMC.
Patterson, a full-time registered nurse, reached out to her civilian colleagues Kristi and Jonathan Brewer, who are physical therapists at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
The Brewers came to the 170th’s drill in the first part of May to help Soldiers better understand form and technique. They were able to break down each exercise for the Soldiers, work on body technique and do on the spot corrections with each Soldier separately. The physical therapist duo even agreed to return to the 170th from time to time for continued education with the unit.
“May drill was a safety stand down month and we really wanted the Soldiers to be engaged,” said Patterson. “Bringing in the physical therapists is how we did it.”
Several Soldiers took the knowledge gained during May drill and incorporated it into their annual training held in Fort Polk, Louisiana, May 18 - June 1.
A large parking lot across the street from the Soldiers’ barracks made a perfect location for practicing exercises. There was also a gym within walking distance with free weights and machines for the Soldiers to practice proper form. .
For many Soldiers, the newly incorporated dead-lift event may prove to be more challenging than the others.
“We have been working out for six months working on this test,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Weller, readiness noncommissioned officer of the 170th SMC. “Dead-lifting more than their body weight will be rough on a lot of Soldiers”
Yet, leaders like Patterson and the Soldiers of the 170th have fully embraced preparing for these changes.
“This is a crawl, walk, run phase situation,” said Patterson. “My intent is that we crawl until the diagnostic [ in October 2019,] then walk to 100 percent pass the first year.”

• Date Taken: 05.23.2019
• Date Posted: 06.19.2019 18:37
• Story ID: 328402
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US