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Helen asks…
For the new Army pt test, I understand we are running 1.5 miles but what is the required run time?
admin answers:
The Army Times from the last week of July had a whole article about the new test. I am sure you can find that online.
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Ken asks…
What do you think of the new Army PT test?
Sit-ups don’t make a soldier, the Army has decided. So its 30-year-old fitness requirements are getting a battlefield-inspired makeover.
Soon every soldier will have to run on a balance beam with two 30-pound canisters of ammunition, drag a sled weighted with 180 pounds of sandbags and vault over obstacles while carrying a rifle. Those were just some of the tests the Army unveiled Tuesday as it moves toward making its physical training look more like combat.
Right now soldiers have to complete sit-ups, push-ups and a two-mile run twice a year within times that vary by age and gender. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, the general in charge of the Army‘s initial military training, said he has been working to change that test for years.
Hertling said the current test “does not adequately measure components of strength, endurance, or mobility,” or predict how well a soldier would do under fire.
A new annual “combat readiness” test includes running 400 meters — about a quarter of a mile — with a rifle, moving through an obstacle course in full combat gear, and crawling and vaulting over obstacles while aiming a rifle. Soldiers also will have to run on a balance beam while carrying 30-pound ammo boxes and do an agility sprint around a course field of cones.
admin answers:
Officers that need or want great bullets on their OER’s always come up with GFI’s. Don’t know what a GFI is ask one of your Army buddies since I can’t mention all of it in this forum. Anyway years ago until they changed to the two mile run etc. Etc. The PT test consisted of a run but there were pullups and you had to run through this little chicane and jump over a ditch and do this three times I guess without twisting an ankle but that was the Vietnam and Post Vietnam PT test. Then some other Staff officer came along and said, wait, Vietnam was over about eight years ago, I know, lets just do this really hard PT test with running, pushups and situps and then they implemented that because were training for the next war, not the last. Anyway, when the TMC’s report that they have to beef up personnel anytime a unit is conducting that type of APFT since we really don’t need twisted ankles, broken necks or legs and such until we actually get to a combat zone, I think someone is going to figure out that LTG Hertlings GFI may not have been such a great one after all.
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Nancy asks…
Whats the New Army PT test like?
admin answers:
I do not know but I do know it was released the 8 active duty posts nation wide to come up with standards so for the next 6 months they will test and get a minimum, maximum standard. Look at it this way it isn’t 2 miles anymore which too me sucked, its only 1 min of push ups which is about what everyone did anyways, the rower ehhh we will see about the outcome of that the standing long jump REALLY? Why is this there? And 60 yard shuttle run ehh we shall see only time will tell. If you want a better answer find an active duty soldier around the US on one of those bases and ask him. The CFT/CRT is totally different consisting of 400m run with “full battle rattle”/ weapon any they have a diagram online so go google that and see for yourself.
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Laura asks…
The new Army PT Test?
Has anyone seen this? What are your thoughts?
I believe this is better than the repetitive 2 minute pushup/situp and 2 mile run seeing as it doesn’t apply too much.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20038354-10391704.html
admin answers:
I’ve been in the Army for a while now and have worked in fitness and rehab for most of that time. The current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) does fall short of accurately measuring a Soldiers fitness level.
This new test, while only in the testing phase, looks like over kill. Five running events. Shuttle, sprint through cones, 1.5 miles run, running across a balance beam carrying weight and a 400 meter run and obstacle course while aiming a weapon, (can’t imagine how they are going to grade aiming). Then do the long jump (I did soooo many of those in Iraq and Afghanistan). Then buddy drag through an obstacle course. 7 mostly lower extremity test? Really? On the same day?
So, units will have to build 2 obstacle courses? At what cost?
Doing that many lower extremity test the same day, not to mention training for them, is asking for an increase in lower extremity injuries. Lower extremity injuries already leads the way in area injured and produces the highest number of Soldiers being put out of the Army. Now you want to increase that?
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William asks…
Opinions on the New US Army PT Test?
As I am sure everyone is aware of it and what the new five events will be. Is anyone here training for it and if so could you please share your workout here such as what exercises re you doing? How many days a week are you working out and doing them? How many sets? How many reps? How long to rest inbetween each set? Thanks
admin answers:
This was a waste of money and time. SMA Chandler already stated the 2 new events (long jump and shuttle run) will be pass-fail events since he’s not so sure they truly measure a Soldiers fitness. The rowers are just another way to do situps, and feels better on my aging back.
I personally believe the Army will continue to change their PT requirements, so I just ensure I am fit and that way I know I can excel in any test the Army throws at me. I PT on my own hours and I do “Insanity” workouts, run, bike and hike. I mean wasn’t that the reason Army leaders wanted to restructure the Army physical fitness test? To ensure Soldiers are fit for combat tasks and stop training for the PT tests?
If you are forced to do morning PT, then make sure you incorporate the shuttle runs into your training. Strong legs will allow for good long jumps, so make sure you are doing squats, lunges, etc. Overall, keep the tempo in your PT sessions high meaning little to no breaks between exercises to keep the cardio up. That’s the biggest problem with unit PT — too slow tempos between exercises and relying on long grueling runs at someone elses pace to keep you “fit.”
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