Professional journals, news articles and opinion blogs are rife with both praise and criticism for the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). While supporters laud the ACFT for its comprehensive assessment of multiple fitness domains and its foundation in the physical demands of combat, critics decry logistical and equipment challenges, controversial scoring standards, and the potential for increased injury rates. Broad consensus regarding the ACFT’s efficacy is further complicated by the congressional halt of full-scale implementation as the test undergoes a third-party review. Regardless of the merits and drawbacks of the ACFT, it is but a single piece in a much larger investment in how we understand, assess, and improve the health and fitness of the force. Specifically, this broader and more fundamental policy shift is the implementation of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system.
More than the ACFT
Before engaging in discussion about the ACFT, every soldier and leader should read and understand the greater purpose behind the H2F program. The guiding document of the H2F system, FM 7-22, has a vastly different approach than its predecessor to soldier health and performance. As the field manual highlights, H2F is an all-encompassing methodology that focuses on optimizing soldier performance through five readiness domains: Physical, Nutritional, Sleep, Mental, and Spiritual. The five readiness domains are interwoven, and a proper, balanced combination of all domains, not just physical, are necessary to optimize soldier performance. The ACFT is merely the assessment tool of the physical readiness domain, yet it has received the lion’s share of attention within the H2F program.
The most challenging aspect of the H2F program is not the training required to perform well on the ACFT but the incorporation of the other four domains into the daily lifestyle of all soldiers. Many units are great at building and achieving general physical preparedness through 60-90 minutes of daily physical training time, coupled with access to a wide array of fitness equipment and skilled Master Fitness Trainers within the ranks. The challenge that many units (and individuals) face is finding the right strategies to effectively change personal behaviors associated with nutritional practices, sleep patterns, mental capacity, and spiritual health.
Phrases like “You can’t out-train a bad diet”, “recovery is key”, or “concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory” illustrate the importance of non-physical factors to overall performance. However, prior to H2F, these elements were not formally integrated into how we train our formations and often were not considered a top priority. Nutrition, sleep, mental, and spiritual preparedness form the foundation that allow us to optimize physical readiness. Although conversations have been myopically focused on the ACFT events and their scoring standards, leaders should be concerned with how to address the fundamental issues of poor nutrition, lack of proper sleep hygiene, and the mental health challenges that are prevalent across the force. How can leaders utilize the expert talent within the H2F performance teams as well as the training principles from FM 7-22 to ensure they are effectively educating and preparing all soldiers within our units?
People as the Priority- An Individualized Approach
In the H2F Operating Concept, the CSA identifies soldiers as his top priority stating, “people are always my #1 priority: our Army’s people are our greatest strength and our most important weapon system.” In service to this top priority, the H2F program is the Army’s long-term investment in human capital. The H2F system is unique in that it abandons the previous one-size-fits-all approach to readiness in favor of individualized programming. Due to vast resourcing requirements, this level of specialized attention was once only reserved to soldiers in the special operations community. With H2F, the goal is to have this same level of training and coaching available to every soldier regardless of branch, unit, or specialty. While this may be a lofty goal, it is one that aligns with the CSA’s top priority.
Access to Professionals
Fully resourced brigades will have embedded strength coaches, a dietician/nutrition team, physical therapists, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, and cognitive enhancement specialists. These specialized assets are placed at the unit level to better support the warfighter. The H2F system, once fully implemented, provides soldiers with regular access to facilities and personnel normally found in professional or elite performance settings. This level of access in the civilian and private sector would cost thousands of dollars to the individual. Yet H2F provides these services for every soldier free of charge. Furthermore, elements of the performance team are available in field and deployed environments. This allows the personalized training and coaching to continue throughout a unit’s entire training cycle. This level of focused attention, if employed correctly, can be a true combat multiplier. It can enhance unit readiness that commanders are constantly fighting to maintain.
Programming
Individualization is the principle that drives programming. In the past, individual soldier strengths and weaknesses weren’t considered in the planning of unit physical readiness training. Additionally, PRT programming often didn’t adhere to sound training principles. Some of these unstructured programs undoubtedly led to overuse injuries through excessive volume, minimal variety, and poor movement techniques. Adherence to the program design section of the FM 7-22 should eliminate randomized, unstructured physical readiness training. It should also address individual differences in fitness amongst soldiers.
The ACFT is the assessment tool through which commanders can evaluate their soldiers physical readiness. They can use it to develop tailored programs to optimize individual performance. The results will provide help the strength training staff prescribe meso and micro cycle programming. This will allow them to target specific areas that require the most improvement. Deliberate program design and assessment will help commanders at all levels to see decreased injury rates, improved movement technique, and increased motivation.
Role of Leaders
Leaders are expected to be role models in a variety of domains to include physical fitness. They often face self-imposed pressures as well as genuine expectations from their soldiers to max their fitness assessments. In the past, the APFT provided a physical assessment that was less demanding. For many leaders, performing well on the APFT took little to no preparation or deliberate training. The vast majority of soldiers and leaders will not max the ACFT, and that is purposeful. The Army specifically designed this test to be very challenging. Only the most elite performers will achieve 100 points in all six events.
Leaders must abandon the mindset that not maxing the fitness test makes you a less capable or ineffective leader. Current senior level leaders have demonstrated this mindset in the form of posting their ACFT scorecards to social media. Everyone should continue to train and perform their personal best on the ACFT. But, this mindset helps reduce soldier anxiety about the negative perceptions associated with not maxing the ACFT. Leaders must curb their ego, assess the areas where they need improvement, and adjust their training accordingly.
Support for the H2F policy and initiatives
One of the largest hurdles to the H2F system is full scale implementation within units. This includes the uncertainty of what the program will ultimately look like. Leader support of the program is one of the best ways to overcome this hurdle. Instead of putting up resistance to H2F and the ACFT, embrace the program. Welcome the new professional personnel into the unit. Make H2F education a priority. Soldiers must see leaders training all fitness domains, not just muscular and aerobic endurance.
Thunderbolt soldiers use their lunch time to take advantage of a combat mobility yoga session. Yoga sessions are designed to improve overall mental wellness and increase core strength and mobility. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Casey Hustin, 17th Field Artillery Brigade)
Further, leaders must demonstrate an understanding and embodiment of all readiness domains, not just physical readiness. This includes establishing positive personal habits for sleep hygiene and healthy eating patterns in a garrison and the field. Leaders must embrace incorporation of mental skills training into PRT on a regular basis. They have to engage in difficult discussion on character, principles, and purpose to facilitate spiritual growth. True support for the H2F system will require embracing all readiness domains. Leader involvement in H2F improves soldier readiness.
Changing a Culture Takes Time
With over 1 million soldiers across all 3 components (active, guard, reserve), full-scale H2F implementation will take time and patience. This is the first time in almost 40 years that the Army is drastically updating its fitness policy and standards. And, its the first Total Force Fitness program in Army history that focuses on soldier performance optimization at scale. H2F won’t be an overnight success. But with strong leaders making H2F implementation a priority, it’s exciting to see the benefits that our soldiers will reap.
Maj. Sarah Ferreira is an Army Military Intelligence Officer and current instructor in the West Point Department of Physical Education. She has a Masters of Education with a focus in Kinesiology and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA.