Читать книгу ACFT For Dummies - Angela Papple Johnston - Страница 30

IN THIS CHAPTER

Navigating Army regs around the ACFT

Zeroing in on the ACFT’s six events

Discovering alternatives for profiles

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is the official test of record for American soldiers all over the world, and like all the moving parts in the Army, it’s governed by its fair share of field manuals, technical manuals, and Army regulations. When you’re training for the ACFT, you need the right equipment, but don’t sweat it, because your on-post fitness centers and your unit are supposed to have it on hand. Your unit needs special equipment to administer the test, too, which I cover later in this chapter.

With gender- and age-neutral scoring requirements, every soldier is required to meet the same scoring standard. The six-event ACFT covers it all: muscular strength and endurance, balance, agility, cardiovascular endurance, anaerobic endurance, and range of motion. Unlike the old APFT, you can’t just show up on test day and expect to perform well. This one requires plenty of preparation because it’s about functional fitness — not just push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run.

Your best bet? Start training early and often for the ACFT. Make it your primary focus for gym time and build in recovery periods so you get the most from your workouts. Fill in the blank workout calendar in Appendix A so you can carve out time to zero in on the training that will help you improve in your weakest events. And remember: Train as you fight. Don’t forget to work in the actual event exercises so you know what to expect (and even how well you’ll do) on test day.