Deadline lifted for new mothers to take Marine PFT, CFT

Marine Corps Times — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:11:44 -0500

From: Marine Corps Times

Marine Corps officials are requiring new mothers take more time before attempting the grueling, but important physical and combat fitness tests post-pregnancy.

The Corps previously mandated women take the tests within six months of returning to full duty after giving birth. But officials with Training and Education Command changed the policy Tuesday, telling new or soon-to-be mothers that they must wait at least six months before attempting either test.

It was not immediately clear whether there is a new, extended deadline once the Marines have been back on duty for six months. The policy shift was announced in administrative message 005/15.

Officials described the now-defunct policy in the memorandum as inconsistent with the amount of time allowed to meet other physical standards, like body fat and weight, following pregnancy. TECOM officials did not immediately respond to queries about the change.

Along with being mandatory, PFT and CFT scores play into promotion opportunities. A Marine's test results are rolled in with his or her rifle qualification performance to form part of the individual's composite score, which officials use to determine eligibility for promotion to the next rank.

Corps career planners recommend promotion-minded Marines excel at their physical and combat fitness tests.

As part of the combat fitness test, Marines must complete a 300-yard shuttle run and an 880-yard course as well as lift a 30-pound ammunition can over the head as many times as possible.

The physical fitness test assesses Marines based on how many crunches and pullups they can do within an allotted period. It also includes a timed three-mile run. For the latter, women may replace the pullup requirement with the timed flexed-arm hang.

That option for female Marines remains a source of debate within the Corps. Officials were expected to eliminate the flexed-arm hang option last summer, but ultimately delayed the move until the end of this year.

Beyond the flexed-arm hang option, standards are tailored by gender. Men must complete the three-mile run in 28 minutes or less while women have 31 minutes to complete the challenge, for example.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/careers/marine-corps/2015/01/08/test-deadline-extended-after-pregnancy/21459303/

Response by Cpl James Goodin made Jan 9 at 2015 9:52 AM

Cpl James Goodin — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:52:02 -0500

This is good. Lets see a male Marine pop a kid sized "something" out of a 10cm hole and then see how soon he's back to 100%. The more time we give these new Mothers the better they can serve us in the long run. Now if they turn around and get pregnant again, well that's a whole new scenario and another topic all together.