What counts as combat PT?

2021-07-15T10:10:42-04:00

I don't think it's universal, but I've been in more than one unit that did "Combat PT" every Thursday. Sometimes it was pretty involved, but more often it was a ruck, a kit run (maybe with an obstacle course), or combatives.

What else counts as combat PT? Have you seen any particularly creative examples? Is there anything basic besides what I've listed here?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jul 15 at 2021 10:47 AM

2021-07-15T10:47:15-04:00

I went to a CLS course and the practical exam did a really good job mixing tactics into the scenario. First we'd have to secure the area and then the patient before trying to administer aid. I think someone could make a good PT session from extracting someone under fire. Or even employing crew served weapons over a set distance.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 15 at 2021 11:53 AM

2021-07-15T11:53:12-04:00

What physical or critical thinking tasks does your unit, company platoon or team expect to need to make in combat?
What exercise, route, task set up will practice and enhance those task skills?

We did a platoon "movement" for PT. Each PLT had to move 4 cans of ammo, 2 cans of water over a fixed course that included getting over a low wall, high wall, up and over the company HQ building roof and back down ( got yelled at for that one),under a wire obstacle. Once the "resupply" was done, the PLT had to move a casualty and his equipment to a CCP some 4 miles away across well traveled path and broken terrain..
We did Friday night fights, each Plt put up a fighter and only Army combatives would be used as trained in level 1-3...No small joint manipulation, no strikes to the face or vital organs.
We did Bradley track races... The Crew had to remove track, replace 4 shoes. Remaining platoon members had to "resupply" the track shoes from a "distant" supply point, return those and water cans.

Imagination and some thought are the only limitations.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2021 7:53 AM

2021-07-16T07:53:11-04:00

So to answer your question I got curious, because everything in the Army is written down SOMEWHERE. I couldn’t find a proper definition in FM 7-22, or either of the companion ATPs about PT or the new ACFT.

What I *did* find was a military.com article which differentiated physical fitness and tactical fitness, but that definition was as broad. Generally speaking tactical, or in our case “combat” is Occupational Fitness that is focused on combat related tasks (occupational fitness being exercises that simply assist in the performance of specific tasks, think “wax on, wax off” relating to defensive blocking in the old Karate Kid).

So with the publications not specifically defining it, consider Combat Fitness to be any exercises that contribute to a combat related task. If you can justify rucking with a giant log being carried on 5 Joe shoulders, boom, combat fitness.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 16 at 2021 2:22 PM

2021-07-16T14:22:37-04:00

I'm MI. Our combat PT was sprinting to an air conditioned office.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 16 at 2021 8:08 PM

2021-07-16T20:08:20-04:00

Urban land navigation as you run to various points.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2021 8:09 AM

2021-07-17T08:09:12-04:00

I liked circuit runs at a moderate pace, with frequent stops for calisthenics. Then step it out a bit, and finally sprint at individual pace to finish. Form a school circle while running in place or a circle to warm down. Stretch good before and after, and wind sprints last. Uniform is boots and utes with a H harness and war belt with 2 full canteens. Not exactly log drills or SFAS, but it makes for a good 45 minute workout. There are lots of hills at Camp Pendleton, and sand tank trails at Camp Lejeune for unit runs. Watch folks for heat casualties for a few minutes before releasing to the barracks.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Jul 17 at 2021 12:16 PM

2021-07-17T12:16:17-04:00

My last few years were in the Guard. I liked to double time my platoon thru town in full kit. The locals loved it and it was great for moral all around. Two of the local parks had overhead ladders at the playgrounds. Ya, I think you know where 2 of the spots were on my runs.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 8 at 2024 7:49 AM

2024-04-08T07:49:13-04:00

Admittedly an infantry offering,

Crew-served weapons dash - "Gun drill on a hill"
Fastest fighting hole races
Squad abatis dash (place simulated explosives to blow an abatis at a choke point)
Trench clearing dash
Blind em, burn em, blast em - bunker attack
Fire and movement unit drills
Australian peel contact break run
Tactical formation runs - change one tactical formation (wedge, echelon, column, line etc. while on a run) screw ups are paid off with mountain climbers, squat thrusts etc.)