Combat Fitness Test

Corps Introduces Tough New Fitness Test: Marines have been at war for seven years -- rotating in a near-constant seven-month cycle of workups and deployment that leaves little time for physical training and all-around fitness. Come home, work out, pass the PFT, deploy. Now, that's all changed.

Early this month, the Corps introduced a new fitness test that goes way beyond the current PFT that measures pull ups, crunches and a timed, three-mile run. The new "combat fitness test" -- which will be administered in addition to the standard PFT -- is more representative of what Marines are doing on deployment. Divided into three events, the new test includes a timed ammo can lift, an 880-yard "movement-to-contact" run and a so-called "maneuver under fire" event that covers 300 yards.


New CFT a true ‘gut check’: The commander of Henderson Hall passed on the first run. So did the command sergeant major. At 47 and 43, respectively, that’s no small feat considering the unforgiving rigors of the Corps’ new Combat Fitness Test. And both Col. William Lietzau and Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green finished with the contents of their stomachs still intact. Not so for 22-year-old Cpl. Jacob Pena, who learned the hard way that a full breakfast, a bottle of Gatorade and the CFT make for unpleasant company.


Combat Fitness Test Rollout, Phase-in to begin Oct 1: Commandant Gen. James Conway rolled out the final details of the much-debated Combat Fitness Test on Aug. 8, promising to revolutionize the way Marines are tested on their fitness and also the way they conduct physical training. The CFT will be implemented Oct. 1, and the first year will be a phase-in period in which Marine officials will gather data to finalize scoring criteria and familiarize Marines with the test. The new test is pass/fail during the first year.

Active-duty Marines will conduct the CFT twice annually, while reservists will perform the rigorous test once each year. Eventually, the CFT will be a three-tiered system similar to the PFT, McGuire said. There will be scores that denote 1st, 2nd and 3rd class, with 300 maximum points.

The CFT is broken down into stages, performed consecutively with brief intermissions for rest and water. Each section will be scored individually, and performed in boots and utility uniforms. The first section is an 880-yard “movement to contact” sprint, with most Marines required to complete the half-mile run in 3 minutes and 48 seconds or less.

Up next is the “ammo can lift,” with Marines lifting a 30-pound ammo can from a starting position at chest level, to above the head and back down, with both arms extended. Participants will be graded on the number completed in two minutes, and most Marines will have to perform at least 45 to pass.

The final stage, the 300-yard “maneuver under fire,” is considered to be the toughest. Part obstacle course, part “American Gladiators,” the drill includes sprinting, crawling, throwing a grenade and carrying a mock casualty.

The only part I was worried about was the ammo can lift but after reading this comment on the military.com forums I felt better because this girl's arm hang score is worse than mine: I took a CFT about a month and a half ago. I didn't find the ammo can lift that hard. The rumor is that for women the minimum will be 20 in the two minutes. I did 47 that day and I'm no where near a stud. To give you an idea I usually get about 38-40 sec on the flex.

After watching the Training/Education Command's official CFT video on military.com, I felt even better because I was also afraid of accidentally dropping the 30-pound ammo can on my head, but you are allowed to lean backwards in such a way that you wouldn't crush your skull, you would just crack about eight ribs. At least that won't give you brain damage! I guess I better go fill up my ammo can with rocks and get to practicing!

P.S. I showed the CFT video to an MSG friend of mine because he told me he hadn't seen it yet. A few minutes later he sent me the following message: "i'm googling resignation papers as i watch this". As far as I've seen, the CFT isn't being received well in MSG Land. It's just one more pain-in-the-rear thing we have to deal with on top of all the other pain-in-the-rear things...I'd at least like to try it and see what it's like but nobody else wants anything to do with it!