DLA Land and Maritime soldiers assess functional fitness through new Army Combat Fitness Test

Photo By Michael Rowland | The two-mile run was the only portion of the Army Fitness Test that was incorporated in the new. Army Combat Fitness Test. Participants ran two-miles outside on the Morale Recreation and Welfare Sports Park track Sept. 20.  

UNITED STATES

09.29.2022

Story by Stefanie Hauck  

Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime

Army personnel assigned to Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime participated for the first time in the new Army Combat Fitness Test Sept. 20 and 21 at the Defense Supply Center Columbus Fitness Center.

According to the Army ACFT website, units had until Oct. 1 to practice the test before it became the fitness test of record.

Personnel assigned to Land and Maritime had the choice to keep their scores from the inaugural test or try for a better score after Oct. 1.

The ACFT replaces the Army’s Physical Fitness Test which focused on how many sit-ups and push-ups a soldier could do plus a timed two-mile run.

The only event that remains from the old test is the two-mile run. According to the ACFT website, six adaptive events replace the components of the old test and are geared toward measuring overall muscular strength, muscle endurance, power, speed, agility, coordination, flexibility, balance, reaction time and aerobic capacity.

The first event is a maximum weight three repetition deadlift in which a soldier stands in the middle of a specially constructed barbell and lifts it from a squat three times. The Army suggests that soldiers train for this component by doing a Sumo deadlifts with a kettlebell, alternate staggered squat jumps or forward lunges with kettlebells.

The second event is a backward standing power throw in which soldiers throw a 10-pound medicine ball over their head as far as they can much like a shot-put in reverse with no spin. The Army suggests that soldiers train for this component by doing power jumps, overhead push presses with kettlebells or tuck jumps.

The third event is performing as many hand release push-ups as possible in two minutes. The Army suggests that soldiers train for this component by doing supine chest presses with kettlebells, eight-count push-ups, bench presses or quadraplex exercises.

The fourth event is a sprint, drag and carry type of event where soldiers sprint 25 meters, touch the ground with one hand and sprint another 25 meters back starting from a prone position; then drag a 90-pound weighted sled backward the same distance; then complete a shuttle run the same distance; then complete a run holding 40-pound kettlebells in each hand the same distance and finish up with another sprint the same distance. The Army suggests that soldiers train for this component by doing straight leg kettlebell deadlifts, bent over rows with kettlebells or 300-meter shuttle runs.

The fifth event is to hold a plank as long as possible. There is no time limit but there is a minimum passing time for this event.

The sixth event is the only carry-over from the old test, the two-mile timed run on an outside track. The only exception is if someone is on a physical profile and is unable to do the run, the alternate aerobic endurance events are the 5,000-meter row, 12,000-meter bike, 1,000-meter swim, or the 2.5 mile walk.

According to the ACFT website, an age and gender performance-normed scoring scale is used to evaluate physical fitness. The scoring chart can be found on the Army ACFT website as well as detailed information about the test to include governing policies and regulations.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2022
• Date Posted: 10.03.2022 11:20
• Story ID: 430537
• Location: US