thedrifter
02-09-08, 08:47 AM
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan-- Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, have been testing the Marine Corps’ new combat fitness test over the past month as one of 14 selected test units throughout the Marine Corps.
Feedback from the unit will be used by representatives of the Training and Education Command from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va, to help determine the CFT’s setup and standards.
The CFT will test Marines’ combat fitness through events such as carrying a fellow Marine, high crawling, throwing a mock grenade and running with ammunition cans.
“Designed to augment our physical fitness test, the CFT (once implemented) will consist of events that more closely replicate the physical demands of combat,” said Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, in white letter 05-07.
CLR-3 leaders discovered they needed to modify morning PT sessions to better prepare their Marines for the physical demands of the CFT.
“We didn’t want to run the test without preparation,” said Maj. James Bounds, the operations officer for CLR-3. “We’ve got to change the mindset of just doing a 3-mile run, 100 crunches and 20 pull-ups for morning physical training. We have to get away from the usual and start doing more dynamic events. You have to train your muscles to do different types of exercises by building not only strength but endurance.”
“If you do just PFT-related workouts, you’re not going to be in the shape that you need to be in,” said Sgt. Josh Owen, a motor transport operator with CLR-3. “If you implement the CFT exercises, it builds better endurance for combat.”
The CFT will not be conducted with the semi-annual physical fitness test, and the CFT’s separate events will be combined into a single course, according to Bounds.
TECOM officials are still deciding on whether the CFT will be a semi-annual or annual requirement and whether the course should be 200 or 300 yards. Officials also haven’t determined if the CFT will be a pass/fail event or if it will be based on a point system.
TECOM representatives are scheduled to observe CLR-3 in late March. Leaders with CLR-3 have prepared their Marines by having them run mock CFT’s throughout January and February.
Feedback from the unit will be used by representatives of the Training and Education Command from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va, to help determine the CFT’s setup and standards.
The CFT will test Marines’ combat fitness through events such as carrying a fellow Marine, high crawling, throwing a mock grenade and running with ammunition cans.
“Designed to augment our physical fitness test, the CFT (once implemented) will consist of events that more closely replicate the physical demands of combat,” said Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, in white letter 05-07.
CLR-3 leaders discovered they needed to modify morning PT sessions to better prepare their Marines for the physical demands of the CFT.
“We didn’t want to run the test without preparation,” said Maj. James Bounds, the operations officer for CLR-3. “We’ve got to change the mindset of just doing a 3-mile run, 100 crunches and 20 pull-ups for morning physical training. We have to get away from the usual and start doing more dynamic events. You have to train your muscles to do different types of exercises by building not only strength but endurance.”
“If you do just PFT-related workouts, you’re not going to be in the shape that you need to be in,” said Sgt. Josh Owen, a motor transport operator with CLR-3. “If you implement the CFT exercises, it builds better endurance for combat.”
The CFT will not be conducted with the semi-annual physical fitness test, and the CFT’s separate events will be combined into a single course, according to Bounds.
TECOM officials are still deciding on whether the CFT will be a semi-annual or annual requirement and whether the course should be 200 or 300 yards. Officials also haven’t determined if the CFT will be a pass/fail event or if it will be based on a point system.
TECOM representatives are scheduled to observe CLR-3 in late March. Leaders with CLR-3 have prepared their Marines by having them run mock CFT’s throughout January and February.