US Army announces new, 7-event fitness test

(NewsNation) — The U.S. Army announced Wednesday an updated version of its combat field test required annually for active duty soldiers.

Soldiers will have to do the following continuously and will be scored on total time.

30 dead-stop push-ups.

16 lifts of a 40-pound sandbag onto a 65-inch platform.

A 50-meter carry of two five-gallon Army water cans weighing 40 pounds each.

A 50-meter movement drill consisting of a 25-meter high crawl and a 25-meter 3-5 second rush.

A final one-mile run.

Fitness tests used to be simpler: A run, push-ups and sit-ups. They evolved over time and now can include options. For example, Air Force service members can do either a 1 1/2-mile run or a sprint. Other services will, at times, allow biking or rowing as a cardio substitute for the run; planks are now more widely used than sit-ups.

The Army and Marines have more extensive fitness tests.

The Army, in a major overhaul several years ago, expanded its fitness test to six events, including a dead lift, run, planks, push-ups, standing power throw, and a combination sprint/drag/carry. The events were meant to mimic real-world military circumstances. An early plan to make that test gender and age-neutral was scrapped after studies showed problems.

The Marine Corps has two tests a year. In the first half, Marines take a physical fitness test that includes a three-mile run, pull-ups and planks. In the second half of the year, they take a combat fitness test that includes an 880-meter run in combat boots, an ammo-can lift and an exercise that mimics troops’ maneuvers under fire.

The maneuver portion includes an obstacle course with a low crawl, high crawl and sprint, as well as dragging a person and using the fireman’s carry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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