Why are so many females failing the new Army PT test?

SFC Eddie Gonzales — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:33:47 -0500

Response by COL John McClellan made Nov 30 at 2019 9:38 AM

COL John McClellan — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:38:53 -0500

Do you have comparative #s?

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Nov 30 at 2019 9:43 AM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:43:49 -0500

I think the numbers will change after the test as been out a little longer.

Response by SFC Eddie Gonzales made Nov 30 at 2019 9:46 AM

SFC Eddie Gonzales — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:46:34 -0500

I read a report that stated 97% of females are failing the test.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 10:18 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:18:46 -0500

Marines have a very similar problem with the pull ups in their fitness test. So much so they created a special class just to teach women how to do pull ups. I'm sure we will see a similar solution being presented soon, probably starting at the unit level.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 11:16 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 11:16:56 -0500

Well reason 1 is they are held to the same standard as men.
Reason 2 is they haven't been training for these events before and women are naturally built differently than men.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Nov 30 at 2019 11:19 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 11:19:28 -0500

Looks like the "leaked slides" show it's really just one event (leg tuck) that may be problematic. Otherwise, the women are essentially equal to or better than the men in every other event.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 11:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 11:38:37 -0500

It is the leg tuck in particular i believe, and it’s because the training for it focuses on abdominals when the focus should be back on biceps to help with the pull

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 12:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:03:19 -0500

Taking into account that the previous physical standards were incredibly low (for both men and women), there's no doubt that the ACFT will have a tremendous impact on those who were considered average or barely met the minimum. Both men and women have failed but with the raw strength events, women will of course struggle a bit more. As Chief already mentioned, these numbers will decrease as time goes on. Men and women will be forced to reach a higher level of fitness or will be forced out of the military. Everything will resolve itself and we will be left with higher quality Soldiers.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 1:18 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:18:41 -0500

I would like to see the numbers once the ACFT is fully implemented for record .

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 1:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:46:09 -0500

Two main reasons:
1. The leg tuck requires significant upper body strength which many women have not trained for like many men do so it’s going to take a lot of training to make up for it. Also just the physical way women and men are built many women will have to train to many of the more strength based sub tests that they aren’t used to doing.

2. The run times are greatly reduced for women compared to the current test. I saw many women fail the run at the TRADOC school house I was at this year when we did the ACFT for practice.

As for the comment that many folks will fail it who currently barely pass the APFT I disagree. I scored well in all the events except the leg tuck. I found the acft to be easier mainly because it focuses more on strength than just speed and how may sit ups you can do.

I personally loved the acft vs the apft

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 4:13 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 16:13:22 -0500

Why? Leaders failing to implement PT programs that focus on developing a tactical athlete and not a marathon runner.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2019 5:48 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 17:48:17 -0500

This is rhetorical -

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Dec 1 at 2019 11:40 AM

MSG Danny Mathers — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 11:40:20 -0500

There is a simple fact that men and women are different. There is no comprehensive PT test that will cover all types of people in all types of jobs. The last PT Test seemed to work well so some chairborne ranger officer assigned to TRADOC recommended/decided they needed something new. The 60's era PT test was best suited for combat arms. It covered everything, 5 events of agility, strength, endurance and stamina. Knowing what I know of the army over the last 50 years, it will re-invent the wheel as far as PT Test, Class A Uniforms, combat Uniforms and headgear. There will be numerous recommendations from Trainers that will be ignored until it is a high ranking officer's idea. Suck it up buttercups, you are today's one size fits all army of snowflakes. Old School Airborne Infantry all the way!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 2 at 2019 9:34 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 09:34:51 -0500

It's the leg tuck that's killing them. Why? Physics.
Males are built top heavy, females are built bottom heavy. They are lifting proportionally more weight than their male counterpart.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 6:58 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:58:58 -0500

Because it's full of exercises and movements many of them have likely never even attempted. Same reason males are failing.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 9:15 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:15:47 -0500

You need to them why they’re failing your new Army Physical Training Test? Maybe they’re not getting it done right?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 10:35 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 22:35:32 -0500

As for the leg tuck, climbing drills have been a part of PRT since at least 2012. Leaders have failed to properly implement them into the PRT program. The deadlift is a different story. It is not something that has been properly resourced or practiced unless you do it on your own at the gym. Those have been the main two events we have seen cause failures for IET Soldiers recently.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 11:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 23:30:36 -0500

SFC, I concur with most comments. Since PT is usually for sustainment, Soldiers are not yet trained to the new standard. Parts of the ACFT, like failure to successfully complete leg tucks, is a failure to conduct climbing drills regularly. I anticipate that the numbers will drastically improve as Soldiers train and take personal accountability for fitness. On a completely seperate note, I predict the ACFT will initiate more medical separations within the next ten months than ever before.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 5:04 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 17:04:32 -0500

I’ve gotten 300’s on APFT since I joined the army. With the ACFT I failed deadlift and leg tuck. Thankfully I took it as a diagnostic in AIT and that’s when I was in tip top army shape. I’m just not strong in my arms, and a lot of females aren’t. I’m super nervous about this. I hope something changes. I believe it was 85% of females that have taken the new one have failed. I’m so nervous to get chaptered. That would suck considering I can get male standards on APFT.