Akinoluna from The day to day, semi-normal life of a female Marine recently ran her first CFT.  Reading her post on the CFT and hearing what she had to go through really got me thinking is the CFT fair?  Akinoluna points out the the next closet Marine outweighed her by 40 lbs.

Now we know that the CFT is not a scored event at this time but will become a scored event in the future.  The CFT is going to be scored similar to the PFT with 3 classes and it is going to be implmented into composite scores and will have an effect on promotions.  So if this tool is going to be used for promotions how can we expect a 110 lb person to carry around a 150 lb person.  What if there is a Marine that weighs 240 lbs and the next heaviest Marine only comes in at 200?  If you are in a small unit it is easy to have a big difference between weights esspecially if there is a petite female or a roid freak gym rat.

Even the ammo can carry seems a little out of whack the more I think about it as well.  Carrying two 30 lb ammo cans isn’t going to be something that a 100 lb feamle is going to excel in I mean shit that would be 60% of her weight.  At the same rate I would be expected to carry two 60 lb ammo cans for a total of 120 lbs.

I am all for equality and I do believe that all Marines should be required to complete this test.  I just don’t think that the exact way it is being run right now I am not sure that it is fair.  I guess we will just have to wait it out and see or maybe I will ask General Conway or SgtMaj Kent what they think as they will be on Pendleton tomorrow.

The Marine Corps already believes that the PFT is fair while some Marines do not so I am sure that they will say that this is the best that we can do right now.  I just hope the Aki or any other Marine doesn’t get screwed over and get an adverse fitness report or bad proficiency and conduct marks due to the fact they aren’t able to carry a Marine one and a half times their weight.

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Scoring The CFT

When the new scoring system is put into place a Marine’s CFT score will count towards promotion (Composite score for LCpl’s and Cpl’s & a new block on the FitRep for Sgt’s and above).  If you do not pass the CFT you will get the same treatment as failing a PFT, you will not be eligible for promotion.  The standards for scoring have not been set but you can find preliminary expectations for 100 point scores on each event here.

Scored CFT Sooner

Along with the reprieve of three months of being required to run your initial CFT you will now be required to run your first scored CFT July 1st 2009 vice Oct 1 2009.  The reason for moving the scored CFT up is to get it in the same rotation as your semi-annual PFT.  Starting July 1 2009 Marines will be required to run two scored CFTs a year along with your current semi-annual PFTs.  Running of the CFT does not exempt you from the PFT.

Conduct of the CFT

The CFT is an anerobic test compared to the areobic test of the PFT.  It is designed to measure fitness when short burst of energy are needed.  The test includes a 880 yard (1/2 mile) run, an ammo can lift, and a 300 yard obstacle course.  All events are performed in boots and utes.  I have had the opportunity to run the CFT and while it is challenging it is not impossible.  The run is easily finished in the alotted 4 minutes, 30 lb ammo cans get heavy quick so get a good technique down, and the obstacle course isn’t that bad at all.  You will definately need to train and you can find training tips here.

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I have been working on my anaerobic activity my burst speed so to speak.  As far as the running thing I have been doing sprints from between 100m to 1/4 mile (1 lap on most tracks).  I start with a 1/4 mile balls out sprint on the track.  I then take a moment an catch my breath I then do a series of shorter sprints up to about 6-8 total.  This is going to help me with the 1/2 mile boots and utes run that starts the CFT.

As far as preparing for the ammo can lift and the movement under fire or whatever it is called course I have been doing the kettlebell workout at the gym.  For those of you unfamiliar with kettlebells let me tell you what they are.  They are a piece of iron that looks like an old school cast iron with a handle that come in a variety of sizes from 5lbs to 100lbs (at my gym anyway).  I have seen kettlebells at all the gyms that I have visited on MCB Camp Pendleton and there is also a poster with a suggested workout on it.

I use the poster with suggested exercises that is at the gym that I go to.  I do 10 of the 12 exercises on the poster (I don’t do the snatch and squat because I have a bum shoulder and I don’t do the last because I can’t figure it out).  The exercises include around the world, figure 8’s, cleans, Snatch, lunges and some variations on those exercises.  I usually do 10 repetitions per exercise (on each side if that is the case) and use a bell between 25 and 30 Lbs (it is more than you think).  I go through the exercises two times each and at the end I am completely spent.  The entire workout takes less than 30 minutes.  The workout I get is far better than a run or even from a regular go to the gym and throw steel around bodybuilding type workout.  For the more advanced kettlebeller here are some more advanced exercises.

Why Kettlebells you ask?

• Accelerates the development of all-purpose strength—to easily handle the toughest and most unexpected demands
• Boosts your physical resilience
• Builds your staying power (endurance)
• Ensures the correct blend of strength with flexibility—because strength that fails to reach is impotent
• Hacks your fat off—without the dishonor of dieting and aerobics
• Builds functional strength
• Easy and portable

Everyone that I have introduced to the kettlebell workout on the poster at the gym has been beat down by the workout just as I was the first time I did it.  Everyone will benefit from the hardcore gym rat that lifts every day all the way to the guy who stays away from the gym as they think lifting is a waste of time.  I have used it for those Marines that are on weight control to shred the fat from their bodies to the skinny weak guy to build strength.  While I don’t think that any one workout is the answer to a person’s physical needs I do believe that kettlebells will compliment everyone’s workout making them better all around.  I believe that if you workout with kettlebells you will do just fine on the CFT

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