Dumb and Dumber: The Army’s New PT Test - War on the Rocks

Not say a new fitness test not needed but this one is to complicated in terms of time, equipment, and testing location.
Lt Col Charlie Brown

CW5 Jack Cardwell - Just think about the time it will take the Reserve and National Guard units to get this down. We're already tapped for an entire weekend and now they want to throw this into the mix? My drill days (MUTA's) went from 48 to 63 which is nuts.

The new push-up would substantially reduce the number of people believing they can perform 120 correct push-ups in 2 minutes. I always hated to be the grader that had to point out, "That's...not...a..uh...push-up."

Why not have a test based on the job?

No more guard or Army Reserve insults. When I was 33 years old I was running a 12-minute 2-mile. I couldn't Max my pushups and situps but my overall score was 270. By the time I was 34, I was still running a 12-minute 2-mile to doing about 90 push-ups and 85 sit-ups and I did extended scale 314 APFT on my officer basic course at age 35! Only until recently have I had a hard time attaining a 300 PT score. My last APFT was the worst I ever took and it was 274. There are people in the garden Reserve that have good genetics and can actually max out and do well on all three portions of the APFT. Maxing the new combat fitness test will not be something to brag about because very few will be able to do that. I'm sure they will be less bragging rights from the active component because they won't be able to Max their test. They'll just be happy with passing it.

MSgt (Join to see) - It supposed to have different standards based on category of job or unit mission (not sure which). But standards in an Infantry Rifle Company can be expected to be higher on this test then in a finance unit.

I don't understand the age neutrality. Why on earth would you only hold a 22 year old to one knee up is beyond me....

CW3 Michael Bodnar 2 years is a long time to learn form and get comfortable with the exercises. You can use a modified sled for the sprint, drag, carry to practice. You can use something to replace the kettle bells or dumb bells. We use to be so innovative and adapt and overcome. I hope all compos get the equipment needed and the means to train.

SSG (Join to see) - Who is going to pay for that because at the end of the day, nothing is free.

1SG (Join to see) - MSG, I understand where you're coming from. My challenge as an MDAY Soldier is how can we fit an event like this into an already hectic drill schedule? This upcoming FY alone, we have 63 MUTA's that includes 3 major CPX's, WFX (DIV Staff), and a deployment to get ready for in FY20. Where's the time to send folks to training, have the equipment purchased, and provide our Soldiers the instruction they need to pass this test? I'm all for the test, please don't get me wrong. I'm just overly cautious about implementing it on compo's 2 & 3.

CW3 Michael Bodnar - I am not going to pretend I know about drill schedules and the intricacies therein. If it becomes the standard for all compo's, the schedule will have to adjust to meet the requirement IMHO. I understand the concern, there are concerns on the active duty side as well. However, at the end of the day we as leaders will figure it out and meet the intent or at least that is what is expected of us.