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ACFT Memorandum HEADLINE – Army Institutes new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) 27 November 2018 MEMORANDUM FROM MG Ray Shields, MG Steve Ferrari, BG Mike Natali, CW5 Jackie O’Keefe, CSM Dave Piwowarski, CSM Corey Cush, and CSM Tom Ciampolillo FOR Each Soldier The Army exists to fight and win the Nation’s wars, and you probably heard we are getting a new fitness test and asked yourself “why are we changing from the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) to the ACFT?” The answer is simple – most Soldiers are not prepared physically for the rigors of large scale ground combat, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we are prepared to fight and win. Since the end of Vietnam, ground combat faced by American Soldiers has been limited. That does not lessen or take away from Soldiers who have experienced intense, pitched close quarters combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, or other places. However, the combat operations we have faced have been counter insurgency rather than large scale superpower conflicts. The APFT tests about 40% of the physical demands required by intense ground combat, while the new ACFT tests about 80%. The objectives of the ACFT are to (1) improve individual Soldier readiness; (2) transform the culture of Army fitness, (3) reduce preventable injuries; (4) enhance mental toughness and stamina; and (5) increase unit readiness; and (6) ensure that the U.S. Army wins in every future war. The ACFT is a positive development, but it also requires a cultural change within the National Guard. As Soldiers, each of us has the obligation to ensure we can do our job. For Soldiers in the National Guard that means you have to devote personal time to physical fitness. We don’t have the luxury of doing PT each morning with our unit, so we have to find the time within our already busy schedule – you have to make that commitment. Soldiers are our most valuable resource and you are the Army’s primary weapon system. Therefore, being physically fit to survive the rigors of the modern battlefield is critical to the Army’s success. All of us must take it upon ourselves to devote the time necessary to pass the ACFT. The Army has published a guide to help Soldiers prepare for the ACFT. You can access it on the NY Army National Guard smartphone App under Soldier’s Portal (download it for free at the App store by searching for “NY National Guard”), or you can access it at http://call.army.mil (search for No. 18-37, September 2018). The ACFT will be field tested in TY-19 and phased in as a diagnostic test first during TY-20. The ACFT will replace the APFT as the physical fitness test of record beginning in FY 2021. The ACFT is age and gender neutral. The grading standards are based on your MOS or unit type in three categories; moderate, significant and heavy physical demand. For example, the minimum number of hand release push-ups in each of these categories is currently 10, 20 and 30. Don’t wait to begin training for the ACFT. Start now! The ACFT Training Guide includes exercises that will help Soldiers successfully prepare to take the ACFT. You will benefit from improved physical conditioning, your readiness level will increase, and you greatly improve your chances of surviving on the modern battlefield if we are called to defend our Nation. Again, the ACFT is there to help save lives. It tests 80% of the physical tasks a Soldier will be required to perform in combat. It is the morale and ethical responsibility of all Soldiers and leaders to be prepared to defend America. Just like we train at the individual level on shoot, move, communicate, medicate, decontaminate, we must now also include the physical training necessary to do all those tasks on the battlefield. The Army will publish policy regarding Soldiers with permanent profiles and if the ACFT will include alternate events. As we understand it today, a permanent profile will not excuse a Soldier from taking the ACFT. Soldiers with temporary profiles will be given adequate time to rehabilitate from their injury before taking the ACFT. We expect the more details regarding profiles in the future. Thank you for being a member of the U.S. Army and the NY Army National Guard. Help us get the word out about the new ACFT and the need to begin exercising and preparing for the new test now! Thank you, PS. Remember to download the NY Army National Guard App on your smart phone for free at the App store by searching for “NY National Guard” and the exercise guide can be found under Soldier’s Portal. You can also ask questions of senior leadership by using the App’s “Ask a Question” feature. .
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