Army Combat Fitness Test

The ACFT was developed to more closely measure "combat-readiness", after it was found that more battlefield evacuations were performed during the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan due to musculoskeletal injuries than were due to the ongoing fighting. It was also designed to address the "declining health and fitness standards of incoming recruits". Studies leading up to the release of the new standard indicated an "increase of overweight recruits who can't pass entry-level physical fitness tests" as well as an increase in injuries resulting from the poor physical condition of new soldiers. The ACFT began development in 2013, and was based on a set of 113 essential "warrior tasks and drills" laid out in army doctrine, as well as feedback from those who had completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The test replaced the United States Army Physical Fitness Test in October 2022. In 2019, the new test was fielded with 63 Reserve and National Guard units. It is the first change in the US Army physical fitness test in four decades. Before being finalized, the ACFT went through several changes. Such changes included removal of the "leg tuck" and replacing it with a plank and changing scores to be age- and gender-dependent. Initially, the ACFT was planned to be scored without regard for age and gender. Eventually, age- and gender- based scoring was introduced. ==Description==

The ACFT is intended to more closely mimic physical tasks and stresses associated with combat. It is designed to measure "power, speed, agility ... balance [and] muscular and aerobic endurance". • Three Repetition Maximum Deadlift: Soldiers choose a weight to lift using a hex-bar three times. If a soldier fails to properly perform three repetitions, they may choose a lighter weight. If a soldier succeeds on their first attempt, they may attempt a higher weight. Of both attempts, the higher weight that was correctly lifted is used. • Hand Release Push-Up: Soldiers execute as many hand release push-ups as possible within two minutes. One repetition of a hand release push-up is started at the prone, pushing the body up and lowering back down, fully extending the arms to the sides and putting the arms back under the shoulder. Soldiers may be stopped early for breaking proper form. • Sprint-Drag-Carry: Soldiers begin in the prone and then sprint up and down a 25 meter (82ft) strip, drag a 90-pound (41kg) sled up and down the strip, perform laterals up and down the strip, carry 40-pound (18kg) kettlebells, and finally sprint. Soldiers aim for the lowest possible time. • Plank: Soldiers hold a proper plank position for as long as possible. • Two Mile Run: On a generally flat route, soldiers run for two miles, aiming for the lowest time. It is graded in a scale with a maximum score of 600 points. In August 2019, a member of the 22nd Chemical Battalion became the first soldier to record a perfect score, beating out the previous record of 597, set in June by a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard. ==See also==