thedrifter
08-22-08, 06:07 AM
Fitness test focuses on combat conditioning
By 1st Lt. Kristin Dalton
Media Officer
Training and Education Command recently kicked off the Marine Corps’ physical fitness road show, making a stop here Wednesday, introducing Marines here to the recently approved Combat Fitness Test and modifications to the Body Composition Program and Military Appearance Program.
To improve both the physical appearance and functional combat fitness of all Marines, the commandant of the Marine Corps instructed TECOM to create a new combat fitness test and re-evaluate both the Body Composition and Military Appearance programs. After 10 months of collaborating with a host of fitness and health experts and conducting numerous tests and refining the programs, TECOM completed the task. The commandant approved Marine Corps orders 6100.13 and 6110.3 earlier this month.
‘‘Changes to the MCPFP will certainly require Marines to modify current conditioning programs in order to improve combat readiness. The CFT measures the physical fitness of Marines by using tests which reflect operational demands,” said Commandant Gen. James T. Conway, in a message to all Marines explaining the new orders.
Effective Oct. 1, Marines’ fitness will be evaluated using the new body composition and military appearance standards in conjunction with their performances on the long-standing Physical Fitness Test and the new Combat Fitness Test, a non-MOS specific test that requires Marines to execute a variety of physical tasks they have been exposed to throughout their entry-level training.
The road show included an hour-long presentation to explain the new standards and regulations as well as a demonstration of the CFT. Similar to the PFT, the CFT is a semi-annual event that will serve as an evaluation tool, yet is meant to ‘‘compliment the PFT, not replace it,” according to Col. Brian McGuire, Physical Readiness Programs officer for TECOM.
The three-part test includes the following:
880-yard Movement To Contact - a sprint for time while wearing boots and utilities
Ammunition Lift – the maximum shoulder-to-overhead repetitions of 30 lb. ammunition can in a two minute period
300-yard Maneuver Under Fire - a series of combat related tasks for time while wearing boots and utilities, including an ammunition re-supply, casualty recovery and a grenade throw.
Marines from Quantico gathered at Butler Stadium to watch the three challenging events. Among those attending was Sgt. Matthew Schaefer, who took a trial version of the CFT during the data collection phase. Schaefer, who liked the idea of a CFT, thought incorporating combat type movements like the buddy drag and fireman’s carry made it more applicable to combat.
‘‘Any Marine should be able to take their own and evac them to safety,” he said, adding the CFT shows they can do just that. He especially liked the idea of the test being done in boots and utilities, since Marines are not in Iraq in green-on-green, the standard physical training attire.
One of the demonstrators, Cpl. Ivee Sanasinh had a very different perspective but also agreed the test was more functional.
‘‘We are not going to run three miles and go to pulls-ups in a war zone,” he said, adding that he liked the idea of doing something new. After completing Wednesday’s demonstration, Sanasinh added that the CFT is definitely ‘‘going to change up PT mornings.”
Another significant change that will affect Marines—and their waistlines—is the adjustment of body fat percentage standards. The purpose of the BCP is to establish weight and body composition standards that will contribute to the overall health and performance of Marines through continuous monitoring and dietary or nutrition assistance. The revised BCP establishes more stringent weight and body composition standards. The chart below shows the new standards for all Marines.
Ellie
By 1st Lt. Kristin Dalton
Media Officer
Training and Education Command recently kicked off the Marine Corps’ physical fitness road show, making a stop here Wednesday, introducing Marines here to the recently approved Combat Fitness Test and modifications to the Body Composition Program and Military Appearance Program.
To improve both the physical appearance and functional combat fitness of all Marines, the commandant of the Marine Corps instructed TECOM to create a new combat fitness test and re-evaluate both the Body Composition and Military Appearance programs. After 10 months of collaborating with a host of fitness and health experts and conducting numerous tests and refining the programs, TECOM completed the task. The commandant approved Marine Corps orders 6100.13 and 6110.3 earlier this month.
‘‘Changes to the MCPFP will certainly require Marines to modify current conditioning programs in order to improve combat readiness. The CFT measures the physical fitness of Marines by using tests which reflect operational demands,” said Commandant Gen. James T. Conway, in a message to all Marines explaining the new orders.
Effective Oct. 1, Marines’ fitness will be evaluated using the new body composition and military appearance standards in conjunction with their performances on the long-standing Physical Fitness Test and the new Combat Fitness Test, a non-MOS specific test that requires Marines to execute a variety of physical tasks they have been exposed to throughout their entry-level training.
The road show included an hour-long presentation to explain the new standards and regulations as well as a demonstration of the CFT. Similar to the PFT, the CFT is a semi-annual event that will serve as an evaluation tool, yet is meant to ‘‘compliment the PFT, not replace it,” according to Col. Brian McGuire, Physical Readiness Programs officer for TECOM.
The three-part test includes the following:
880-yard Movement To Contact - a sprint for time while wearing boots and utilities
Ammunition Lift – the maximum shoulder-to-overhead repetitions of 30 lb. ammunition can in a two minute period
300-yard Maneuver Under Fire - a series of combat related tasks for time while wearing boots and utilities, including an ammunition re-supply, casualty recovery and a grenade throw.
Marines from Quantico gathered at Butler Stadium to watch the three challenging events. Among those attending was Sgt. Matthew Schaefer, who took a trial version of the CFT during the data collection phase. Schaefer, who liked the idea of a CFT, thought incorporating combat type movements like the buddy drag and fireman’s carry made it more applicable to combat.
‘‘Any Marine should be able to take their own and evac them to safety,” he said, adding the CFT shows they can do just that. He especially liked the idea of the test being done in boots and utilities, since Marines are not in Iraq in green-on-green, the standard physical training attire.
One of the demonstrators, Cpl. Ivee Sanasinh had a very different perspective but also agreed the test was more functional.
‘‘We are not going to run three miles and go to pulls-ups in a war zone,” he said, adding that he liked the idea of doing something new. After completing Wednesday’s demonstration, Sanasinh added that the CFT is definitely ‘‘going to change up PT mornings.”
Another significant change that will affect Marines—and their waistlines—is the adjustment of body fat percentage standards. The purpose of the BCP is to establish weight and body composition standards that will contribute to the overall health and performance of Marines through continuous monitoring and dietary or nutrition assistance. The revised BCP establishes more stringent weight and body composition standards. The chart below shows the new standards for all Marines.
Ellie