The ACFT (Army Combat Fitness Test) took place in the early hours of Memorial Day, with Cadets from 1st Regiment challenged to complete the six-event test.
According to Capt. Rob Haight, a chaplain present for the test, this is the first time that many Cadets are facing the ACFT at Cadet Summer Training (CST).
The ACFT is a relatively new addition to the Army’s physical fitness program.
“It’s been in the planning phases for about two or three years now. They just made the final changes to it and it’ll become [on October First] the standard record for physical fitness,” said Haight.
Since the ACFT doesn’t become the standard until October, the Cadets that underwent the test on Memorial Day were undertaking it in order to gauge their physical fitness levels.
“They [the Cadets] can’t be held to that standard until they’ve had time to train for it. This is to see where their physical fitness lies within the realms of this test,” said Haight.
Included in the test are dead lift, standing power throw, hand release push-ups, plank, spring-drag-carry. The event is ended with a two-mile run.
Cadet Ashley Meister from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is one of the participants that completed the test that morning. To her, the hardest part was the plank.
“We’ve been preparing for the leg tuck so switching over to the plank before the first two months of camp was a little challenging,” said Meister.
Although the plank may have proved to be a struggle for Meister, she performed admirably on the other trials she faced. Indeed, Meister almost maxed out at every other event.
While the ACFT may have proved challenging for many of the Cadets undertaking it, it was a challenge they could meet. This early test was a necessary step in preparing them for what lay ahead during CST.
“They’re very motivated and very excited,” said Haight. “I think to train like this, to grow, and to learn is the best way we can honor those who have given for our country.”
