The Army, in its latest Combat Fitness Test, is reinstituting separate measures for men’s and women’s performance, admitting a single standard cannot be achieved.
Changes to the physical fitness test began a decade ago when soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan were failing at basic battlefield tasks. The Army, at first, sought a gender-neutral test but saw increasing rates of failure among female soldiers. In the newest version, dubbed ACFT 3.0, a tiered system will be tested that awards soldiers in five performance categories on a curve against their same-gender peers.
“It accounts for the recognized physiological differences between men and women and removes the direct competition between men and women in the service,” Maj. Gen. Lonnie Hibbard, commanding general of the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training, told reporters Monday.
Green, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum categories would be based on how well the soldier performs in his or her gender groups. For example, a platinum category might represent the top 1% of scores and the green, the lowest 50%.
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The Army explained that the scores for male and female soldiers might vary, but the minimum standard of 360 on a 600 scale will remain for both genders.
The changes were made by reviewing data, observing how allies train, and incorporating soldier feedback, the Army said.
“Army senior leaders are listening to what our soldiers are saying about the ACFT,” Hibbard said.
The fitness test began changing in 2003, when soldiers were failing basic tasks such as firing their weapon, moving to cover, and performing first-aid.
Push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run were considered not holistic enough to meet the new requirements of war, so a six-exercise test was devised that incorporates exercises including a plank, dead lift, and sprint-drag-carry.
The sprint-drag-carry requires the soldier to sprint 25 meters and back five times, first without weight, then dragging a 90-pound sled backward, then moving laterally with no weight, then with 40 lb kettlebells in each hand, then again with no weight.
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Just one-quarter of soldiers have taken the new test, with an 85% pass rate. The Army believes the new test will reduce injuries and diversify the muscle strength soldiers have to perform battlefield tasks.
The Army may begin implementing the new tiered system by March 2022.
