11 Things Marines need to know about PFT, CFT & Body Comp...

[FoxtrotOscar]

The Marine Corps' new fitness rules are out, and they include some revolutionary changes to the way the service measures strength and body fat.

Starting in 2017, Marines will be given the option to replace pullups with pushups when taking the annual Physical Fitness Test. Marines who earn 285 points on the now-tougher physical and combat fitness tests will no longer be subject to weight and body fat limits.

Body fat standards will also be loosened for those who score between 250 and 284 points on the tests.

The flexed-arm hang will be phased out in January, and there will be all-new scoring tables for the PFT and CFT that account for a Marine's age. More points will be needed to nab a first- or second-class PFT, as well.

Effective immediately, though, are relaxed weight limits for female Marines, more precise measuring devices for anyone facing the tape test and a new system for getting body composition waivers.

The radical new plan was detailed in all-Marine message 022/16, which was released Friday. It was signed by Commandant Gen. Robert Neller, who noted that "these are the biggest changes to the PFT since 1972 and the CFT since 2009."

Neller ordered a full review to the service's fitness policies in an effort to ensure the rules were relevant. The months-long process was "a collaborative effort that drew from fitness experts and Marines," the ALMAR states.

The updates are meant to "incentivize behavior to enhance health and fitness for all Marines."

"The new PFT and CFT standards raise the bar on physical fitness for all Marines," said Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, commanding general of Training and Education Command.

"Marines today are stronger, faster and fitter than ever and these changes reflect that. Bigger and stronger often means heavier, so tying performance on the PFT and CFT to changes to the Body Composition Program are improvements that we think the Marines will appreciate."

Several of the changes were previewed this spring when senior leaders presented their recommendations during an executive off-site meeting in April.

The presentation, which was obtained by Marine Corps Times in April, was presented by Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, with insight from Lukeman and other leaders.

Additional details on the final changes — including the new PFT and CFT scoring tables, PT recommendations and BCP adjustments — will be available on the Marine Corps' fitness website.

Service-wide administrative messages and Marine Corps orders will also be issued and updated as needed, Neller wrote.

Here are 11 things every Marine needs to know.

The pushup/pullup hybrid event
After years of debate about whether to require women to do pullups as part of the PFT, the flexed-arm hang era is officially coming to a close. Starting next year, all Marines, poolees and officer candidates will have two choices when it comes to flexing their upper-body might: pullups or pushups.

Brian McGuire, deputy of fitness branch for TECOM’s standards division, called the flexed-arm hang an "inadequate test of upper body strength," adding that the pullup is preferred because it requires an individual to overcome his entire body weight, while a pushup requires he overcome only 70 to 80 percent.

So why include pushups at all?

McGuire said it was because the Marine Corps didn't "want to create a manpower problem by having some female Marines failing."

“This is a very big change in fitness testing," he said.

"One of the key principles is to ensure a greater distinction between Marines at different fitness levels.

...While it incentivizes pullups, if the individual cannot do a pullup, the individual doesn’t fail.”

*** Note***
The article is lengthy, includes photos, but is worth reading, it can be found here: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/stor...ules/86582012/

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[USMC 2571]

Good post, Mike, but I forget just what the standards were when I was in, it's been so long ago. All I know is that we did what we were told, if we were told to do pushups we did them. That's about all I remember of the exact physical standards imposed back then.

[m14ed]

yah know ,,,,

anybody remember rope climbs ?
and NO legs while climbing -
once you got the hang of it?

[USMC 2571]

That's right, Ed, and no knots in the rope either. Nowadays we couldn't even begin to climb it, even if the whole length was lying on the ground.

[Tennessee Top]

Our heavy hat used to sit on the ground, legs crossed, and then go up the rope just using his hands. Obviously, part monkey!

Clearly, they've added pushups to give the females an option over pull-ups (too many were failing the PFT when they tried making pull-ups mandatory for females).

[Phantom Blooper]

All the women back in my day that I knew were good at "push ups".......so it just stands to reason.....and now PC.......

[Kegler300]

The former PFT of sit-ups, pull-ups, and three-mile run was never a real test of strength.

[SGT7477]

Pullups did test your strength if you wanted to score the 100 points on that part,lol, Semper Fidelis.