Much has been said about the Army’s new fitness test. The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is the replacement for the Army Physical Fitness Test, and there are no shortage of opinions on it. Just take a look here, here, or here. Even Business Insider is getting in on the fun. But, barring slight changes from the ongoing field testing, it looks like the ACFT will be coming to a company near you in the near future. So let’s prepare for it. You’ve read the ACFT handbook (TRADOC 18-37); consulted the dietician, physical therapist, and strength & conditioning (S&C) coach assigned to your battalion; and integrated exercises and recommendations into your unit’s health and fitness program. With all that preparation complete, how would you plan a company-level execution of the new ACFT? What does that day look like?

Here’s the scenario. You are a company commander (or 1SG) and receive the green light from the battalion commander and CSM to run the ACFT as a company. You will have the battalion’s 10-lane set of equipment and a buddy on the battalion staff has a connection with another battalion that could add an additional 10 sets for a potential of up to 20 lanes. Additionally, understanding how difficult it is to assemble an HHC in one shot, the HHC commander and 1SG have asked you to test your medic slice.

Rough Planning Factors

170 total pax, which includes
25 x E-5s
15 x E-6s
10 E-7 through O-3

One Way of Skinning the Cat

Here’s my initial proposal to the company leadership for further refinement. My preference is to run the ACRT internal to the company – when possible, put your own people in charge to reinforce the chain of command and give them leadership experience.

While the ACRT handbook template states that you could complete company in ~2 hours, I’d run 15 lanes and slow things down just a bit. Rather than stacking the lanes up with a continuous flow (requiring more graders), I’d run 2 heats at a time – one going through the field events and one on the 2 mile run. This would push heats to every 30 minutes. Also, at least for a fall/spring iteration, I’d push the start time back to 0800 to both allow for slightly warmer weather and deconflict with units that might use the site for PT.

By Heat

FORT EUSTIS, Va. — Army senior leaders have approved a new strenuous fitness test designed to better prepare Soldiers for combat tasks, reduce injuries and lead to ample cost savings across the service. Retrieved from Army.mil.

Heat 1 (0800) – squad leaders graded by team leaders / PSGs; squad leaders then become the graders for the remainder of the morning

Heats 2-4 (0900/0930/1000) – fire teams and other team sized elements for the first two platoons

Heats 5-7 (1030/1100/1130) – fire teams and other team sized elements for the other platoons and slice elements

Heat 8 (1200) – company leadership, E-7 and above

Friday Fitness

We’d run the ARCT on a Friday. In conjunction, we’d coordinate for the DFAC to do a lunch cookout at the test site timed to coincide with the final heat. Soldiers can both knock out lunch and see their senior leadership in action. We’d also invite the BN CDR and BN CSM to execute during this heat, giving them a chance to see a well-run event by the LTs/PSGs/SLs and for the Soldiers to see them in action as well.

We’d then do a 1430 or 1500 close out formation, recognizing high scores in each event and the overall top performances in the company. If the battalion commander and CSM participated in the test, then I’d ask them to participate as we presented awards (coins or certificates for top performances and an AAM for the overall top performer).

Concurrent Training

Soldier in 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry, 7th Infantry Division conducts a trial ACFT at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. Retrieved from the unit Facebook page.

While the company is engaged in the ARCT for slightly over half a day, individual fire teams will only use ~2 hours. This provides plenty of time for them to execute priorities of work as a small sized element (e.g., PCIs for the next week’s FTX, counseling, battle drill rehearsals, etc.). Also, as a tougher event, it lends itself to providing an opportunity for team bonding (the cookout) and recognizing outstanding performance (awards at a closeout formation).

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How would you execute the ACFT? What coordination factors or mitigation requirements did we forget? Please join the conversation in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter. One rule – the Teddy “Man in the Arena” Rule. It’s not the critic who counts. If you’re going to raise a problem you should also suggest a solution.