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ACFT thoughts?
I know you've all probably talked about this to death, but I'd like to know RP's general thoughts on the new ACFT. I've chatted with people in my company and with others and everyone I know seems to have serious reservations about this because of the significantly lower standards.
In my opinion, getting rid of the age brackets is a serious mistake. maybe for some older soldiers it may be good, but for the vast majority of younger people such as myself the new PT test has become much easier to pass.
A friend of mine said his unit partook in the ACFT and told me it took nearly two hours to complete for a small sized company. The APFT needed to be changed but this is a step in the wrong direction.
Here's a video which I think sums up my thoughts perfectly https://youtu.be/6c7ocWXsO0Y
I know you've all probably talked about this to death, but I'd like to know RP's general thoughts on the new ACFT. I've chatted with people in my company and with others and everyone I know seems to have serious reservations about this because of the significantly lower standards.
In my opinion, getting rid of the age brackets is a serious mistake. maybe for some older soldiers it may be good, but for the vast majority of younger people such as myself the new PT test has become much easier to pass.
A friend of mine said his unit partook in the ACFT and told me it took nearly two hours to complete for a small sized company. The APFT needed to be changed but this is a step in the wrong direction.
Here's a video which I think sums up my thoughts perfectly https://youtu.be/6c7ocWXsO0Y
APFT
ACFT
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Bass ackwards, in true Army style. Years of 300PT scores making a stellar soldier who promotes rapidly, and beyond capacity has created an organization that can't measure soldiers subjectively. Critical thinking skills haven't been important for leadership, so all measures are objective to prevent the need to think. Computer based learned has replaced mentoring and become the primary teaching model because the accountability is easy to pass off instead of owning it at lower levels. Garrison mindset is growing again and pushing out the generation of warriors who are experienced and can battle train the new soldiers, but they aren't "inspection ready" so garrison doesn't want them.
PT is vital, no doubt, but it is not and should not be weighted as importantly as it is. The priority of evaluation should be on the MOS specific tasks. It is embarrassing to see leaders who don't know the basics of their job having to be trained and corrected by privates. PT should be a go/nogo event, simple enough. The 10 level mos skills should be the graded and heavily measured metric.
PT is vital, no doubt, but it is not and should not be weighted as importantly as it is. The priority of evaluation should be on the MOS specific tasks. It is embarrassing to see leaders who don't know the basics of their job having to be trained and corrected by privates. PT should be a go/nogo event, simple enough. The 10 level mos skills should be the graded and heavily measured metric.
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I am very concerned about the run. Right now CBRN is considered heavy physical demand. I have poor knee joints and have been putting off trying for a walking profile because I can suck it up enough at 51 years old to still pass the run. But looking at the proposed table I am going to have to try and shave nearly 3 minutes off. What is going to happen to the older, more worn down Soldier? The idea that every level of Soldier within an MOS should have the same performance standards does not match reality. I know in my MOS, older more experienced Soldiers (NCOs) are often in a planning, and guidance role, or managing a TOC or similar control center. This will be interesting
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LTC Stephen Conway
It will be a shock to the system. It means well but I think it's going to have to be adjusted some. No offense to the females, but they had to change the APFT and 1981 from the older event because of the merging of the women's Army Corps with the once all male us military. The other standardized the APFT and that's what we've had until recently. I foresee retention suffering. I new a couple of former Brigade commanders who could run the 2-mile in under 14 minutes and max out their push-ups and sit-ups. Before it was maxing in a 300 points or even going an extended scale prior to the year 2000. Now, it will just be passing your test. It seems well and good but I see or foresee a lot of back problems for some people. I know I spoke to a major from tradoc who said it's been thoroughly tested and it's actually safer then the old APFT. Time will tell but in the meantime, I'm going to be doing the best I can on the old system. My biggest problem is the run. I've gained 10 lb and I've run about a minute slower than I used to. The last time I max out my APFT was in 2012. Since then I've varied between 273 and 298..
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CW3 Michael Bodnar
I'm interested to see what kind of unit level training is generated based off this new test. Are we going to train to pass this test or are we going to train for combat situations. I got it that every unit is different but what happens if you're called upon to put a rifle in your hand and you become a rifleman?
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LTC John Wilson
CW3 Michael Bodnar based on the test, if units and Soldiers are training to pass it, they'll be physically ready for combat.
I would prefer to see a 4 or 6 mile ruck march rather than a 2 mile run.
I would prefer to see a 4 or 6 mile ruck march rather than a 2 mile run.
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CW3 Michael Bodnar
LTC John Wilson - Sir, you read my mind. I was just thinking that very thing and 100% agree with you. The only challenge to what you've said above is which compo are we referring to? I can see huge challenges for the Reserve and National Guard units as we only work 2 days out of the month. I'm having challenges right now getting my Soldiers to pass the APFT as it is now. Throw this new test into the mix, hello attrition.
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LTC John Wilson
CW3 Michael Bodnar I concur. Challenges will be huge for the RC. However, some Soldiers who find the current APFT a challenge may not have a problem with the new test. The APFT was never a good gauge of functional fitness. I think the new test is a good step in the right direction, but the Army may be stepping a little too far out.
Even now the current standards are merely a proposal. I expect to see changes in the conduct and scoring of the test.
For example, the equipment list for the test is silly and stupid expensive. While I'm a strong proponent for Kettlebells, we could do the shuttle run with 5 gallon water cans and SKEDS litters for far less cost to the taxpayer. There are others ways to test core strength and squat power that don't require extra wide pull up bars and special bar bells.
The British havr a functional strength test that gets after the same goals as our new test. Perhaps a hybrid of the two?
Even now the current standards are merely a proposal. I expect to see changes in the conduct and scoring of the test.
For example, the equipment list for the test is silly and stupid expensive. While I'm a strong proponent for Kettlebells, we could do the shuttle run with 5 gallon water cans and SKEDS litters for far less cost to the taxpayer. There are others ways to test core strength and squat power that don't require extra wide pull up bars and special bar bells.
The British havr a functional strength test that gets after the same goals as our new test. Perhaps a hybrid of the two?
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