Marine Corps MARADMIN 539/18 announced three major changes to MCO 6100.3A affecting the standard Physical Fitness and Combat Fitness Tests, beginning January 1, 2019 (PFT) and July 1, 2019 (CFT) to increase the Corps’ overall physical fitness and combat effectiveness.
The first change will be to the rest times between CFT events. Instead of no less than five minutes of rest between events, three minutes will be the new rest period. This is to decrease the time it takes to complete the test and make the CFT more challenging.
The minimum passing score for both the PFT and CFT has also changed. Marines need to meet more than the minimum requirement in at least one event in order to receive a passing score. The minimum passing score has increased and will now be 150 for both tests. Scoring the minimum in all categories will no longer result in a passing score.
The third change is the raising of minimum and maximum pull-ups for female Marines. The data has been evaluated over the last two years, and females continue to increase in their pull up propensity and average number of pull up repetitions. All aspects of the general fitness tests will continue to be evaluated and appropriate adjustments will be made where required.
This announcement is part of a larger, on-going institutional effort to modernize the force and help Marines become more combat credible in lethality and readiness.
In addition to announcing these changes, Training and Education Command will be training more Force Fitness Instructors, and sending them across the fleet every year. These trainers will assist commanders in more rapidly elevating their unit fitness levels and helping prepare Marines to be ready for the new fitness changes to come next year.
"Every aspect of our general fitness testing has been re-evaluated and looked at and the ultimate aim is to make it as challenging as possible for Marines, but still test their overall fitness," said Director of The Force Fitness Division Col. Stephen Armes. "We've increased the standards. Although scores may dip a little, Marines will respond to the challenge to get their numbers back up. It's going to make the Marines more lethal and ready for combat," said Armes.