Latest news with #StandingPowerThrow
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Army fitness test announced: Here's what soldiers must complete
The Brief The U.S. Army announced an overhaul of its physical fitness test, including gender-neutral standards for soldiers in 21 combat jobs. The new fitness test consists of a three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up army extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and a two-mile run. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously ordered the military to make fitness standards for combat jobs gender-neutral, formalizing a process that existed for many of those jobs already. WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army announced an overhaul of its physical fitness test that soldiers must complete in an effort to improve their health and strength, as well as wartime readiness and the "lethality of the force." The new Army Fitness Test (AFT), announced on Monday to replace the former Amy Combat Fitness Test, also includes gender-neutral standards for soldiers in 21 combat roles. Here's what to know: What we know There are five parts to the new fitness test, the Army said. It consists of a three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up army extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and a two-mile run. The AFT has gender-neutral scoring for soldiers in 21 combat-focused military roles, it said. Those serving in combat roles must achieve a minimum of 60 points per event and an overall minimum score of 350. The new fitness test no longer includes the Standing Power Throw, which is an event requiring soldiers to hurl a 10-pound medicine ball backward over their heads and often referred to as the "yeet," according to The outlet reported that the event was often ridiculed by service members who viewed it as an "outlier that emphasizes technique over strength or endurance." Timeline The new fitness test will be implemented in phases starting on June 1, 2025, the Army said. The new scoring standards for active soldiers in 21 combat military occupational specialties (MOSs) will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and on June 1, 2026, for the Reserve and National Guard. The Army said "implementation guidance and associated execution orders" would be released next month. What they're saying "The change reflects the Army's continued focus on building a physically ready force capable of meeting operational demands in austere environments," the Army said in a statement. Big picture view The U.S. military has long had what is largely a two-part system for physical fitness standards: -Routine annual fitness tests with different requirements based on gender and age. -More grueling standards for specific combat, special operations, infantry, armor, pararescue jumpers and other jobs that are the same for everyone in that occupation, and are not adjusted for age or gender. In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the military across all branches to make fitness standards for combat jobs gender-neutral, formalizing a process that existed for many of those jobs already. In a memo, he told leaders of the military services to distinguish which jobs are considered combat arms — such as special operations or infantry, and require "heightened entry level and sustained physical fitness" — and which are not. "We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles," Hegseth said in a video posted on X in March. "Soon we'll have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat." Hegseth, an Army veteran who rose to the rank of major and served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, has emphasized the need for uniform and more stringent fitness standards for male and female soldiers in combat roles. Prior to taking on the Pentagon job, Hegseth spoke about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women. The March memo said all physical fitness requirements for those combat arms positions must be gender-neutral, "based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary." The Source This story was reported based on an announcement shared by the U.S. Army on April 21, 2025, about its new Army Fitness Test. It was reported from Cincinnati, and the Associated Press contributed.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
22-04-2025
- Sport
- First Post
No more ‘yeet', gender-neutral targets: How US Army is overhauling fitness test and why
The US Army is set to replace its Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with the Army Fitness Test (AFT). The changes include getting rid of one of its most criticised events and introducing new gender-neutral standards for soldiers. But why is the army making the move? What do experts think? read more The US Army is set to replace its Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with the Army Fitness Test (AFT). Reuters The US Army is revamping its fitness test. The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is slated to be replaced with the Army Fitness Test (AFT), according to several media reports. The US Army is getting rid of one of its most criticised events and introducing new gender-neutral standards for soldiers. The changes are set to take effect on June 1, 2025. But what do we know? Why is the US Army making this move? Let's take a closer look: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What do we know? Newsweek quoted the army as saying that the AFT is intended to create a 'physically ready force capable of meeting operational demands in austere environments.' As per the army will be doing away with the Standing Power Throw – an event that sees soldiers throw 4.5 kilo medicine balls backwards over their heads. The trial is unpopular with soldiers for its preference for technique over strength and stamina. A Rand Corp study also suggested that taller soldiers did better in the event. The event is also known as the 'yeet.' 'Studies showed that the throw had the greatest risk of injury,' Command Sergeant Major Stephanie Carl told Task & Purpose. As per The Times of India, five events – the three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up with arm extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and 3.2-kilometre run – will be kept. Soldiers must achieve a minimum of 60 points in each event and a minimum overall score of 350. Soldiers currently can score a maximum score of 600 points. With the Standing Power Throw being done away with, that total may come down to 500. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has criticised women in combat roles, has long made gender-neutral benchmarks a priority. Reuters As per it remains unclear what happens to the army policy that soldiers who score 540 on the test – thus proving their physical fitness – are exempt from height and weight requirements STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US Army will also introduce gender-neutral targets that soldiers in 21 combat roles – such as infantry, armour, field artillery, cavalry and Special Forces – must achieve during the test. 'For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral,' Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann told the military publication Task & Purpose. 'The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event.' However, the memo makes no mention of cannon crew members, soldiers who operate howitzers and are tasked with lifting and loading heavy artillery ammunition. It remains unclear whether that is an oversight or typo. It also excludes combat medics from the types of combat jobs. Service members in combat roles who have been injured and cannot undertake the test will need to score at least 70 points on each event they can perform in AFT. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new scoring chart is yet to be released. The memo stated that all active duty soldiers across the army reserve and National Guard will begin taking the new test in June. The gender-neutral standards will take effect on January 1, 2026 for active-duty soldiers and June 1, 2026, for Reserve and National Guard units. Why is the US Army making the move? Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has criticised women in combat roles, has long made gender-neutral benchmarks a priority. 'We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles,' Hegseth said in a video on X in March. 'Soon, we'll have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat.' As per NewsWeek, the AFT has been introduced in keeping with the fiscal year 2024 defence bill which mandates that the army set up 'increased minimum fitness standards' for combat roles. The new standards initially covered 20 combat roles before the Army added the Special Forces warrant officer role. As pe_r Hindustan Times_, the ACFT was launched in 2022. Planned for over a decade, the ACFT was intended to be a role-specific assessment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its tests were tailor-made for different military occupational specialities (MOS) across the army. However, the role-specific plan was later vetoed later due to several logistical issues. The new AFT is thought to have a very low standard for passing. Male recruits, for example, must run 3.2 kilometres in 22 minutes and perform 10 hand-release push-ups. However, soldiers will also need to have elite levels of athleticism to make high scores. Strength and technique will both be tested. There are also concerns that women will face a tougher time. As per Newsweek, women in combat roles will need to achieve higher targets. In the previous system, a woman aged 17 to 21 needed to deadlift 54 kilos. Under the new standard, she must lift 63 kilos. The sprint-drag-carry event time for women has been shortened from 3 minutes and 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 28 seconds. 'The one thing that's definite is no standard will be lowered,' Naumann said. The apprehensions came from the results of the ACFT trials in 2019. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the time, 84 per cent of female soldiers failed the ACFT, compared to just 30 per cent of men. The Service Women's Action Network criticised the way the test was unveiled, calling it 'rash' because 'too many otherwise qualified soldiers are failing elements of the test.' 'I don't think we're going to suddenly see drastic changes in failure rates,' Naumann added. 'There's always been some people who fail whether through personal choice or just in ability to get there. I don't think that we're going to suddenly see mass amounts of retention problems. I would argue people want to be in organisations that have high standards.' With inputs from agencies
