Posted on May 28, 2021
What changes would you recommend be made to the ACFT?
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So with all of the back and forth on the ACFT, obviously the big thing is the gender neutral standards that come up in every case/ argument. One thing that I believe that needs to change is the run. It should be dropped down to either 1 mile or even an 800 M sprint/ Run. Failing time at 5:30 seconds, faster time = better score. We already have the sprint /drag /carry... thoughts?
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ACFT
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ACFT Physical Training
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 10
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The long run is there, I believe, to test for cardio endurance. Every other event is a "sprint" in terms of muscle usage and aerobic fitness - high intensity, short duration. Even with the fact that there have been a number of event in a (relatively) short period, there is still recovery in between each event. Especially cardio-respiratory recovery, even if the muscles themselves are continuously fatigued. Shortening the run to 1/2 mile, or even a mile, defeats this test of endurance. Personally, I would rather see it go UP to four or five miles, to truly test fortitude - both cardio-respiratory and intestinal. (However, I have a strong feeling that extending the run in this manner will cause a LOT of additional injuries, especially when run on fatigued muscles, so it is probably impractical for a force-wide solution.)
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CW2 (Join to see)
Running distance doesn't cause injuries, it's how the Army trains (or doesn't train) for long runs that do it. The reason we switched to the nightmare of PRT was because of lots of lower body injuries. Those injuries were because the new Soldiers would show up to a unit that could run 5-6 miles a day and that new Soldier was fresh out of mechanized world or OSUT and was now forced to run 2-3x what they normally did with no build up. That'll injure someone real quick.
The Army's response.....train even less on running and continue to PCS people as much, split units up, and worry more about Position of Attention during PT than actually doing effective PT.
The Army's response.....train even less on running and continue to PCS people as much, split units up, and worry more about Position of Attention during PT than actually doing effective PT.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
CW2 (Join to see) -
Chief,
I am not disagreeing. However, I am looking specifically at running distance after already pushing multiple muscle groups to muscle failure in the very recent past (at least in theory). This will cause most people - even those who are used to running those distances - to compensate by using different muscles and/or altering their "standard running gait," which should increase the risk of injury. If you go out and run and you do not run how you have trained your body to run, bad things happen. And if you run a longer distance, causing even greater fatigue and an even greater likelihood of running in ways which you have not trained your body to run....
Chief,
I am not disagreeing. However, I am looking specifically at running distance after already pushing multiple muscle groups to muscle failure in the very recent past (at least in theory). This will cause most people - even those who are used to running those distances - to compensate by using different muscles and/or altering their "standard running gait," which should increase the risk of injury. If you go out and run and you do not run how you have trained your body to run, bad things happen. And if you run a longer distance, causing even greater fatigue and an even greater likelihood of running in ways which you have not trained your body to run....
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SSG Ray Petersen - So the fix for an 800m or 1 mile run not properly testing for endurance is simply to not test for endurance at all? I fail to see the logic in that.
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I'm not sure that such a short distance will be an adequate indicator of aerobic fitness. Isn't that what the run is supposed to measure?
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CW2 (Join to see)
SSG Ray Petersen - That's the point of testing one's ability but having to still do a 2 miler after all that. The better fitness one is in, the quicker they'll recover. This test is designed to be EASIER to pass but HARDER to max.
The test doesn't take that long to administer. Time isn't the problem, it's daily PRT (or HHF whatever they're calling it) that's the problem.
The test doesn't take that long to administer. Time isn't the problem, it's daily PRT (or HHF whatever they're calling it) that's the problem.
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SSG Ray Petersen
CW2 (Join to see) - H2F is great for those that are/have been injured and needing to get back on track as well as those who are enrolled in the ABCP. You have strength coaches / trainers (civilians) as well as a dietician (military and civilian) plus occupational therapy and Physical therapy that can help alleviate the TMC with some of those appointments. They put the personnel in H2F through a solid workout. PRT isn't so much a problem but its just not enough. For some (like me) I get more out of pushing myself working out on my own. I have never liked going at some one else's intensity or time or distance, that's how you end up with injuries and you have soldiers dreading the morning pt sessions. I would suggest a 0900 work call across the force and play by big boy rules (such as what officers and warrants do).
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CW2 (Join to see)
SSG Ray Petersen - Yes, H2F is the big Army's version of THOR3. And yes, it's great for recovery, ABCP, and even IET where you have people from all over who need to get to a simple baseline. But for normal PT for the healthy Soldier, for lack of a better word....is absolute trash.
PRT is based on specific reps and paces, which is good for maybe 30%. Exercise should be based on EACH person's ability. Which is why it takes a little more effort to develop a plan. Tempo runs are great because it's just 15 min out and 15 min back at something like 85% of one's PT test pace. Everyone does a different distance, but everyone gets a great run based on their ability, and (in theory) everyone returns to the start point at the same time.
Distance is a human construct - the body doesn't understand it. The body gets intensity over time. But we (the Army) choose to use things like specific distances, so many reps of XX exercise, and the time wasting continuous return to position of attention.....
Big boy rules would be great. It works for SOF. But the big Army has lots of little boys and girls who just won't do PT. Now my thinking on that is to just hold em to the UCMJ and kick em out if they fail their tests. We need mature professionals. But JAG and TDS would be so swamped in about a month it just won't work...so we have to do early formations and hold people's hands...
PRT is based on specific reps and paces, which is good for maybe 30%. Exercise should be based on EACH person's ability. Which is why it takes a little more effort to develop a plan. Tempo runs are great because it's just 15 min out and 15 min back at something like 85% of one's PT test pace. Everyone does a different distance, but everyone gets a great run based on their ability, and (in theory) everyone returns to the start point at the same time.
Distance is a human construct - the body doesn't understand it. The body gets intensity over time. But we (the Army) choose to use things like specific distances, so many reps of XX exercise, and the time wasting continuous return to position of attention.....
Big boy rules would be great. It works for SOF. But the big Army has lots of little boys and girls who just won't do PT. Now my thinking on that is to just hold em to the UCMJ and kick em out if they fail their tests. We need mature professionals. But JAG and TDS would be so swamped in about a month it just won't work...so we have to do early formations and hold people's hands...
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I like it. Make it 3-3:30 for males to get a 100. I like the idea! Easy for people to train on a 400m track.
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SSG Ray Petersen
Sir,
Thank you for the feedback. A lot of units already have their ACFT Tricons near a track so it keeps logistics to a minimum, but also we as a force should be training for shorter distances.
Thank you for the feedback. A lot of units already have their ACFT Tricons near a track so it keeps logistics to a minimum, but also we as a force should be training for shorter distances.
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