More than a Test: Building a Better Army Fitness Culture
John Spencer and Robby Boutwell | 02.17.21
The new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a major improvement over the old Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The new test and the changes that it will drive—ranging from Army institutional beliefs to everyday physical fitness practices—will lead to a force more fit, resilient, healthy, and ready for the rigors of soldering. The next challenge will be implementing a new Army fitness culture to get the most out of the ACFT. Fortunately, there is a ready resource for those challenges: the world of CrossFit.
The most fundamental difference between the ACFT and APFT is that the new test incorporates years of advancements and understanding in the fields of exercise science, physiology, sports medicine, and injury prevention. These advancements are also reflected in the evolution of CrossFit, and the similarities between the science, theories, and even movements associated with the ACFT and CrossFit are inescapable.
CrossFit is a form of functional fitness that started over twenty years ago. It is also a community that has constantly evolved and has grown to over fifteen thousand brick-and-mortar gym affiliates. Since its inception, CrossFit’s effective training techniques have been learned at both the CrossFit headquarters level and in affiliate gyms, backed up by both empirical and academic evidence. Over time, as better training methods have developed, the training has grown more effective and has helped a wide population of people with varied fitness levels, training backgrounds, and capabilities.
https://mwi.usma.edu/more-than-a-test-building-a-better-army-fitness-culture/
