ACFT Equipment refers to the tools needed for the Army ACFT fitness assessment. The equipment measures the strength, endurance, and power of soldiers.
- The Army Combat Fitness Test evaluates a soldier’s fitness in terms of their physical readiness for combat and various military tasks.
- The equipment used in this test is specialized to measure various physical capabilities such as strength, endurance, and power.
- Each piece of ACFT equipment has been meticulously chosen to not only test these capabilities but to also mimic real-world scenarios that soldiers might face on the battlefield.
Let’s delve deeper into each of these items and their purpose:
Table of Contents
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Primary ACFT Equipment List
Tape Measure
- Purpose: We will use tape measures to gauge the distance a soldier can throw in the Standing Power Throw event.
- This measures a soldier’s ability to project power, which can be vital in tasks like throwing equipment over an obstacle.
Trap Bar/Hex Bar
- Purpose: Central to the Maximum Deadlift Event, we use the hex bar to evaluate a soldier’s lower body and back strength.
- Deadlifting is a foundational movement that mimics the action of lifting heavy equipment or a fellow soldier during combat.
Medicine Ball
- Purpose: We use medicine balls in the standing power throw to measure the ability to generate upper-body power from a standing position.
- The distance a soldier can throw this weighted ball provides insights into their explosive power from a standing position.
Weight Plates
- Weight plates are versatile components that we use in various events.
- Different weights simulate the diverse equipment soldiers might handle in real-world scenarios.
- Maximum Deadlift Event: Demonstrates the ability to handle heavy loads.
- Hand-release Push-ups Event: Evaluate endurance as soldiers push themselves off the ground.
- Standing Power Throw Event: Used to increase difficulty, testing explosive strength.
Kettlebells
- Purpose: In the Sprint Drag Carry event, we use kettlebells to simulate casualties or equipment that soldiers might need to transport rapidly during combat.
- This event tests agility, speed, and functional strength.
Resistance Bands
- Purpose: Primarily used for warm-up, these bands prepare muscles for exertion during the standing power throw event, aiding in injury prevention and peak performance.
- A proper warm-up is crucial for preventing injuries and ensuring that soldiers perform at their peak.
Stopwatch
- Purpose: A crucial tool to time the 2-mile run event and Plank event, this device evaluates the soldier’s cardiovascular endurance and stamina.
Sled
- Purpose: Used in the Sprint-Drag-Carry event, the sled simulates the weight and resistance a soldier might face when pulling a wounded comrade to safety.
Cone Markers
- Purpose: Essential for marking boundaries and distances in events, particularly in the Sprint-Drag-Carry event, to delineate turn-around points.
Supplementary Equipment and Tools
Scoring Chart/Device
- A vital tool to record each soldier’s performance, ensuring that they are evaluated fairly and consistently against the established benchmarks.
- This scoring device helps to determine if soldiers are meeting, exceeding, or falling short of the Army’s physical standards.
Detailed ACFT Events and Equipment Table
| Event | Equipment Used | Evaluate cardiovascular endurance and stamina. |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Power Throw | Tape Measure, Medicine Ball, Resistance Bands | Measures explosive power and the ability to project force. |
| Maximum Deadlift Event | Trap Bar/Hex Bar, Weight Plates | Evaluates lower body and back strength. |
| Leg Tuck | Pull-up Bar, Resistance Bands | Assesses core strength and grip endurance. |
| Hand Release Push-ups | Weight Plates | Determines upper body strength and endurance. |
| Sprint Drag Carry | Kettlebells, Sled, Cone Markers | Tests agility, speed, and functional strength. |
| 2-mile run | Stopwatch | Evaluates cardiovascular endurance and stamina. |
The ACFT’s multifaceted equipment list underscores the Army’s commitment to ensuring its soldiers are ready for the diverse challenges of modern combat.
Each tool is chosen with a precise intent, ensuring that when a soldier passes the ACFT, they are truly ready for the rigors of military duty.