Posted on 02/06/2019 6:36:57 PM PST by jazusamo
The U.S. Army is developing a more intensive fitness test tailored to combat situations following complaints from commanders of insufficient troop readiness.
Top members of Army brass told The Associated Press that the existing physical fitness tests employed by the Army during basic training do not adequately prepare soldiers for the physical challenges of the battlefield.
A new test that is described by the military as far more physically intensive “may be harder, but it is necessary,” Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, told the AP.
“We needed to change the culture of fitness in the United States Army," added Army Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost, commander of the Army’s Center for Initial Military Training. "We had a high number of nondeployable soldiers that had a lot of muscular/skeletal injuries and medical challenges because we hadn’t trained them from a fitness perspective in the right way."
The new test, developed by Maj. Gen. Frost, does not adjust scores for age or gender, unlike the current test. It also adds exercises including dead lifts, sprints with 40-pound weights, power throws, and a 2-mile run among other new tasks.
“Many folks find it easy to do the maximum standard for the current test,” Frost told the AP. “This new test is gender and age neutral. I cannot max this test.”
The AP reports that the new test will affect every soldier who attends basic training, including those not traditionally in combat roles.
“It breaks the mindset of ‘I am an intel soldier,‘” one military intelligence specialist told the news service. “It changes it to ‘I am a soldier,’ because bullets on the battlefield don’t discriminate.”
The test comes in response to concerns about readiness from top Army officials, who told the AP that as many as 12 percent of soldiers are undeployable due to injuries at any given time.
About one-third of soldiers who enter the service leave before their third year due to injuries, according to Frost, which the Army attributes to insufficient fitness training during boot camp.
“The goal is about a having a more combat-ready army," Frost told the AP.
..I can see it now..
...somebody wants to loose weight and can't afford a fat camp so he "enlists" in one of these pre basic camps..
..just no...
..I don't think we have the young people to fill the ranks with these standards.
..but maybe that's the point..
..fewer but better..
Its not the tucking thats hard, its not crushing your balls that is the tricky part.
That's a lot.
Probably. But they’d “adapted” the standards for women. I have no objection to women serving, but it should be in separate units, because, like it or not, men and women are different.
The test has been the same during my whole career in the Army, close to 15 years now. Push-ups, sit-ups, and 2 mile run (or alternatives walk or swim).
There is a complicated score chart for the current test, with age and gender categories. The sit-up standard is the same for men and women.
I honestly do not think I would be able to pass the new test. Without any age or gender categories, I think that a lot of people, especially women, will be at a disadvantage. As someone told me years ago, the Army did not hire me for my physical prowess. While the new test might keep women out of combat, it will also keep us out of the jobs where physical strength is not a requirement.
I'm glad I will be retiring in another year. I won't ever have to take the new test.
It sure is as compared to what it used to be when we didn’t have a diverse Army nor video game raised young people as recruits enlisting.
I’m so old that I was an ammo bearer for David.
Yep, Mrs. jaz was a WAC when we were married and that was way back.
Women have many slots in the military that they do a great job in, there’s no need that I can see to have them combat.
I guess I’m old fashioned but I just don’t see the need for it.
Positives:
Job relevant excercises.
Good application of exercise physiology principles.
Negative:
The battlefield doesn’t offer anyone “Two minute rests”.
Finally some common sense?
I’m 58 and probably like you, did not grow up with a video game controller in my hand and couch glued to my butt.
Today’s Soldiers didn’t grow up doing chores, having PE in school, they have almost no upper body strength and brittle bones.
Weight of the deadlift required is dependent on your MOS. Moderate, signifigant or heavy are the catagories. Same goes for number of pushups and hanging knee raises.
then you’re doing quite well given your “vintage” LOL
The rope climb and fireman's carry would humiliate you if not prepared. The "run" with full gear could be done at a very fast walk.
Yeah, I’d like to see the reps on those. I used to max the PT test, but am getting older.
There is no substitute for miles with boots on.
None.
Back in 1966 we were taught the 5BX exercises. Has it changed since then?
I still have my 5BX book somewhere.
Easy fix, tie a bonus to individual fitness levels. Subsidise what you want more of and you’ll get more of it.
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