ACFT For Dummies. Angela Papple Johnston

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Introduction

      The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a hot topic in military circles right now, and if you’re reading this book, you probably want to do your best on this make-or-break assessment. Sure, physical fitness is the cornerstone of combat readiness, but the Army’s kept the same old physical training regimen for more than four decades. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

      The problem is that the old test — the Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT — was broken. It wasn’t a good gauge of a soldier’s overall fitness. How much can you really measure with push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run? Not much.

      Enter the ACFT, the Army’s new and improved assessment that looks at a soldier’s functional fitness level. The days of calling three events a test are over, and so are the days of gender- and age-specific scoring. Now, the Army has a completely neutral test that every soldier must pass. Performance is divided into three Physical Demand Categories based on military occupational specialty, or MOS: Moderate, Significant, and Heavy.

      You have to pass the ACFT. If you don’t, you may need to start looking for a new job — and that’s the last thing you want to do, whether you’re working toward retirement or you’re just ready to complete your first contract.

About This Book

      ACFT For Dummies is the resource you need to improve your physical fitness, train for the ACFT, and make good choices between 1130 and 1300. I explain each test event in detail, discuss the test’s rules, show you exercises you can use to improve your performance on each event, and explain how to deal with injuries. I even give you guidance on maintaining a healthy diet.

      This book also contains the answers to all your burning ACFT questions, such as

       What exercises should I do to prepare for each event?

       Is PRT really going to help me perform well on the ACFT?

       How healthy are popular