ACFT For Dummies. Angela Papple Johnston
period begins as soon as the last soldier finishes the Leg Tuck. The other rest periods are approximate and may vary based on the number of soldiers in each lane. The only exception: When only one or two soldiers are being tested, 5-minute rest periods between the first four events are mandatory.
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FIGURE 3-1: The ACFT work-rest cycle.
Doing Your Homework before the Test
During the week before you take the ACFT, you’re supposed to review each test event and the standards you have to meet based on your physical demand category. In fact, just before you take the test, the OIC or NCOIC will read aloud the following statement:
You are about to take the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, a test that will measure your upper- and lower-body muscular endurance, muscular strength, aerobic endurance, and explosive power. The results of this test will give you and your commanders an indication of your state of physical readiness and will act as a guide in determining your physical training needs. After selecting the lane with your preferred weight for the 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift event, you may be assigned to a different lane for the next events. You will rest and recover while other soldiers complete their turns. After the last soldier completes the Leg Tuck event, there will be a ten-minute recovery period for all tested soldiers before the start of the 2-Mile Run. Do the best you can on each of the events.
Head over to Chapter 4 to read the Army’s official instructions for each of the six test events.
Having the Right Tools for the Job: Required Equipment
Like everything else in the Army, you have to have the right tools for the job. In order to administer the ACFT, units must provide all the moving parts that make the test go.
The Army mandates that every battalion has one complete ACFT Equipment Set, which includes one or more
Bumper plates: Each lane must be equipped to accommodate soldiers lifting between 140 and 340 pounds of weight, and different lanes may have different weight configurations. The Army says additional 5-pound plates “may be acquired locally,” which means the unit can pirate them from the fitness center or another place that’s willing to share.
Sled with pull strap: Every lane requires one sled and pull strap. The sled has to be nylon and must be able to accommodate four 45-pound bumper plates. The pull strap must be 92 inches long and feature a handle on both ends.
10-pound medicine ball: The medicine ball must be approximately nine inches in diameter, made from hard rubber, and feature a textured grip surface. The Army says that the medicine ball must be weatherproof and that it has to be firm and nonmalleable.
40-pound kettlebells: Every lane needs two 40-pound kettlebells made from cast iron or cast steel, and they must have a closed, single-loop handle. Each kettlebell must be approximately 11 inches tall, have a flat base so it can stand with the handle positioned vertically, and be powder coated.
Metric measuring tape: Every lane needs a 30-meter-long, vinyl-coated fiberglass metric measuring tape. It must be in a shatter-resistant case with an “easy-to-wind, flush-folding handle.”
Climbing bars or a climbing pod: Many PT fields have climbing bars, but the Army requires units to use very specific setups. See Figure 3-2 for a look at the right climbing bar measurements. A portable pull-up bar is authorized if one of the climbing pods isn’t available, but it has to meet certain specifications. Whatever units use, they need one per lane.
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FIGURE 3-2: Climbing pods for the ACFT.
The Army’s “Supplemental ACFT Supporting Equipment List” includes artificial turf strips (for the Sprint-Drag-Carry), field cones, measuring wheels, speaker boxes, pointers, outdoor clocks, and stopwatches, which units can use at their discretion.
The PT field you use matters, too. It needs to be soft, flat, and dry and must measure at least 30 meters by 50 meters — that’s a little less than half a football field. The ground has to be grass or artificial turf, and the site has to be free from significant hazards. Test administrators pick a site that has room to conduct the Preparation Drill and give briefings. The running course can be a track or any other solid, improved surface with less than a 3 percent uphill grade (with no overall decline). Figure 3-3 shows a 16-lane PT field setup.
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FIGURE 3-3: Required ACFT field.
Every test site also needs an admin table that includes grade sheets, surveys, Form DD 2977 (Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet), Combat Lifesaver (CLS) bags (medical kits), and ice sheets. The admin table also serves as the CLS point where the medics hang out. Though every unit’s DD 2977 looks different, Figure 3-4 shows an example.
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FIGURE 3-4: Sample DD 2977 for an ACFT.
Looking at Helpful Test-Day Details
If you’re someone who likes to visualize every possible detail before tackling a project, this section is for you. It’s where I break down some aspects of ACFT administration you may not think to, well, think about ahead of the test.
Equipment on the lanes
Graders and support staff initially set up the equipment before the test. However, test-takers can rearrange their equipment however they want — graders don’t reset it between participants. That means when you arrive in your lane, you put your equipment where it’s easiest for you to use (such as for the Sprint-Drag-Carry).
Soldier testing order
Soldiers rotate through each lane in groups of four, starting with the MDL. The same soldier goes first for the next four events: the Standing Power Throw (SPT), Hand Release Push-Up – Arm Extension (HRP), Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC), and Leg Tuck (LTK). After the last soldier completes the LTK, the programmed 10-minute rest period begins, and everyone moves to the running path or track at the same time.
Card-carrying ACFT-takers: Scorecards
Test administrators can hand out scorecards prior to the test or at the testing site, after the Preparation Drill. The OIC or NCOIC instructs you to fill out your personal information on the scorecard, which includes your name, gender, unit, MOS, date, pay grade, and age. The OIC or NCOIC then reads these instructions:
You are to carry this card with you to the first event — the Maximum Deadlift — and give it to the grader. The Maximum Deadlift grader will record your Maximum Deadlift weight and return the