{"id":40833,"date":"2019-12-11T16:10:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T16:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/11\/these-two-acft-events-are-proving-to-be-the-hardest\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:28:10","slug":"these-two-acft-events-are-proving-to-be-the-hardest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/12\/11\/these-two-acft-events-are-proving-to-be-the-hardest\/","title":{"rendered":"These two ACFT events are proving to be the hardest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The six-event Army Combat Fitness Test <\/a>is rolling out service-wide this year, as gear deliveries begin next month, but a few events stand out for new recruits already taking the test at basic training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early numbers show the two test events that require the most training are the leg tuck and standing power throw, according to Lt. Col. Peggy Kageleiry, public affairs director for the Center for Initial Military Training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the first week of basic combat training to advanced individual training, men went on average from five to seven leg tucks. Women went from less than half a full repetition of a leg tuck to a full leg tuck, according to CIMT data told to Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One leg tuck is required to meet the minimum requirements for \u201cmoderate\u201d Army jobs like drone operator and intelligence analyst. Five leg tucks are required for \u201cheavy\u201d jobs like infantryman and armor crewman, according to the fiscal 2020 standards sheet.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll soldiers who have not trained, who have not practiced specific exercises to develop core strength and minimal upper body strength, will have challenges initially,\u201d Kageleiry said in a written statement. \u201cHowever, in early analysis of the pilot, BCT trainees made significant progress.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter training and a few months of practice, we expect them to be much improved,\u201d she added. \u201cWe are seeing significant gains in as little as 8-10 weeks of training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leg tuck, in which a soldier hangs from a bar with an alternating grip and brings legs to chest, is designed to assess the strength of a soldier\u2019s grip, arm, shoulder and trunk muscles. Those are key to avoiding back injuries when carrying heavy loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The throw, in which a soldier hurls a 10-pound medicine ball backward and overhead for distance, represents tasks that require quick physical action to move gear or troops in combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, a trainee must pass the ACFT to graduate from basic<\/a>, with one event waived to 50 points, Army Training Center spokesman Michael B. Pond previously told Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still collecting data, and the sample size is too small to gain any significant insights,\u201d Pond, who works at Fort Jackson, said in early November. \u201cWith over 40,000 Trainees graduating into Soldiers at Fort Jackson every year, we\u2019ll need 6-9 months to really see the impact. And all the Battalions transition from familiarization to the test of record after January.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t