Latest news with #ExpertInfantryBadgePhysicalFitnessAssessment
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ranger School to implement new physical fitness assessment
FORT BENNING, Ga. () — Soldiers looking to become some of the most elite in the U.S. Army will be assessed with new physical benchmarks, starting in late April. The U.S. Army Infantry School announced today that it is replacing the physical fitness assessment to enter the Ranger Course, also referred to as Ranger School. The new Ranger Physical Fitness Assessment (RPFA) prioritizes functional fitness, aiming to mimic the types of movement Rangers need in the field. Implementation begins on April 21 with class 06-25. 'Push-ups and sit-ups are no longer the Army standard,' U.S. Army Infantry School Commander Brig. Gen. Phil Kiniery said in a release about the new assessment. Ranger School students will now complete a two-phase RPFA on the first day of the Ranger Course. Both phases must be completed in uniform (OCPs) and boots, a modification from the Expert Infantry Badge Physical Fitness Assessment (EIB PFA), which the new Ranger School assessment also pulls from. The first phase of the assessment includes seven events, which must be completed in 14 minutes or less in the format below: 800-meter run 30x dead-stop push-ups 100-meter sprint 16x 40-pound sandbag lifts onto a 68-inch platform, 50-meter farmers' carry with two five-gallon Army water cans weighing 40-pounds each 50-meter movement drill consisting of a 25-meter high crawl and 25-meter 3-5 second rush 800-meter run 'The first part of the assessment mimics an operation in that students are moving toward a set of objectives, completing the objectives, and then maneuvering away from the objective,' Kiniery explained. The second phase begins after Ranger Course students change into weather-appropriate physical fitness uniforms. It includes two parts: 4 mile run in a minimum standard time of 32 minutes 6 chin-ups U.S. Army officials say the goal of the new two-part assessment is to get a better feel for which candidates are physically prepared for the rigors of Ranger School. 'We don't want to hurt people,' said U.S. Army official Jennifer Gunn, director of public affairs at Fort Benning, where the first phase of the Ranger Course takes place. Gunn compared the new assessment to a running a marathon. Those who go in untrained risk injury; but those who train, should be prepared to take on the rest of the race, in this case Ranger School. 'This supports functional fitness and echoes the intensity of the events Ranger candidates will complete during the course,' Kiniery said. When it launches in late April, the new assessment will be in an 'operational tryout' phase. Ranger School cadre could still make adjustments to the minimum time standards, based on their observed effectiveness and ability to reduce risk for ingoing Ranger School students. The new assessment replaces the previous Ranger Course physical assessment, which required hopefuls to complete at least 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a five-mile run in under 40 minutes and six chin ups. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ranger School's new fitness test is tougher than ever, but nixes sit-ups
The first test a soldier has to take to earn a Ranger tab just got harder — unless you really hate sit-ups. The Army announced Thursday a completely revamped physical fitness test for Ranger School, which all candidates must pass before reporting and then again on the course's first day. The test runs soldiers through a multitude of 'functional fitness' events, all of which they must complete in a set time period, a major change from the individually graded repetitions of exercises in the old test. One thing soldiers might be glad to see: no more sit-ups, and only 30 modified push-ups. 'Push-ups and sit-ups are no longer the Army standard,' said Brig. Gen. Phil Kiniery, commandant of the Army Infantry School, which is responsible for the Ranger course. The previous Ranger test, he said, was based on the now-defunct Army Physical Fitness Test, and required Ranger School candidates to be at the same level as the 70% percentile of 18-to-20-year-olds, regardless of age. The new test is completed wearing combat uniforms and boots. In 14 minutes, soldiers must complete: An 800-meter run. 30 dead-stop push-ups. a 100-meter sprint. 16 lifts of 40-pound sandbags onto a 68-inch platform. 50-meter 'farmers' carry' of two 40-pound water cans. A 25-meter high crawl, 25-meter three-to-five second rush. A final 800-meter run. After that, soldiers will change into their physical fitness uniform and run four miles within 32 minutes followed by six chin-ups. The old Ranger course assessment consisted of 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a 5-mile run within 40 minutes, and six chin-ups. The new version is a modified version of the Expert Infantry Badge Physical Fitness Assessment, another test that was updated to focus on functional movements. Kiniery said that the test was re-designed to match the Army's newer focus on functional fitness, a style of training focused on large, dynamic, full-body movements, akin to actions in combat. The test is meant to collectively challenge a soldier's stamina, muscular strength, endurance, agility, and coordination, the Army said. 'Our new assessment is better aligned with the Army's focus on training functional fitness and is tailored to help our cadre better assess student potential to successfully complete the Ranger Course safely,' he said. Ranger School is considered one of the Army's toughest training programs, combining leadership challenges and rigorous field training. Soldiers earn their black-and-yellow tab after completing the 61-day course's three phases at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the mountains of North Georgia and in the swampy ranges of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Beginning April 21, soldiers will have to take the new Ranger Physical Fitness Assessment, RPFA, on the school's first day. The new Ranger test mirrors the evolution of the annual service-wide Army Combat Fitness Test. The ACFT — which includes eight functional fitness events — was adopted in 2022 with the goal of preparing soldiers for the physical demands of battle and reducing musculoskeletal injuries. Fitness injuries have long been among the more common injuries suffered by soldiers. In 2021, musculoskeletal injuries made up 81% of all soldier injuries recorded that year, according to the Defense Health Agency. The Marine Corps' Combat Fitness Test, which was introduced in 2008, was also designed as a functional fitness test aimed at testing Marines' physical preparedness for combat operations. Taken every year by all Marines, the test is an 880-yard sprint, 30-pound ammo lift, and a 300-yard 'Maneuver Under Fire' course consisting of a crawl, ammunition resupply, grenade throw, agility run, and a drag and fireman's carry of a simulated casualty. In 2015, the Army opened up Ranger school to women. Over the last decade, women on active duty, and in the National Guard and Reserve have earned their tabs by meeting the grueling fitness requirements — which are the same for all soldiers who go through the school. Former Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told Task & Purpose in December that more than 150 women had graduated from Ranger school. The Army's Master Combat Badges will be coming to soldiers this month Air Force shoots down Houthi drones launched at Navy carrier strike group Medal of Honor recipient depicted in movie 'Glory' erased from Pentagon website 'Saving Private Ryan' didn't make the Army's list of most accurate movie portrayals Army reveals designs for Mountaineering and Mariner Badges
