{"id":57293,"date":"2019-05-31T20:03:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T20:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/31\/top-marine-approves-planks-as-an-alternative-to-crunches\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:44:57","slug":"top-marine-approves-planks-as-an-alternative-to-crunches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2019\/05\/31\/top-marine-approves-planks-as-an-alternative-to-crunches\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Marine approves planks as an alternative to crunches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller has approved planks<\/a> as an alternative to abdominal crunches on the physical fitness test, or PFT, according to Marine officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come Jan. 1, 2020, Marines will have the option of holding their body in a plank position or ripping out crunches on the PFT<\/a>, according to officials at Training and Education Command, Force Fitness Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To hit a perfect score, a Marine will need to hold a plank for four minutes and 20 seconds, and there will only be one scoring table for both male and female Marines across all age groups, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details regarding the plank, including scoring table, will be forthcoming in a new Marine administrative message, Marine officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced Thursday that the Navy was ditching sit-ups for planks on its fitness test known as the PRT.<\/p>\n\n\n\t