The Army Combat Fitness Test is Exactly What the Army Needs—as Long as These Challenges are Addressed
Jeremiah Rozman and Eugene Irby | June 8, 2020
The new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) has been a target of criticism since the moment it was announced as the eventual replacement of the APFT—the Army Physical Fitness Test that the service had used to measure soldiers’ fitness for nearly four decades. In some ways, at least, the new ACFT got a bad rap. Yes, it requires more cumbersome and expensive logistics, but the Army believes that it will actually save money by reducing injuries and the nondeployable rate. Still, leaked unofficial testing results showing high rates of failure, especially among female soldiers, and the Army’s recent suspension of the transition to the ACFT in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, draw attention to problems that could sink the ACFT under regular circumstances. Transitioning to the new test will still yield benefits for the Army, but only if these flaws are fixed. This can be done with reasonable effort, but it will require creativity. Specifically, the Army should address six key challenges so that it can proceed with the ACFT roll out safely and effectively.
https://mwi.usma.edu/army-combat-fitness-test-exactly-army-needs-long-challenges-addressed/
