Annual Fitness Test

In the British Army, the Annual Fitness Test is designed to assess soldiers' lower and upper body strength and endurance. The test was formerly known as the Combat Fitness Test – and is still colloquially known by soldiers as the CFT. The test involves a fast-paced march at fifteen minutes per mile (brisk and uncomfortable walking pace), in full combat gear including the SA80 personal weapon, across rough terrain and on roads. The exact weight of the equipment carried depends upon the type of unit and it is usually 15 kg to 25 kg dependent on service or arm, but all will cover a distance of 8 miles in less than 2 hours.

Typically, British Army Infantry units will carry the most weight (25 kg). Combat Support Arms, Royal Engineers, and Royal Artillery) carry a lower amount of weight (20 kg). Combat Service Support Arms such as the Army Medical Services, Royal Signals, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Adjutant General's Corps carry (15 kg). Female soldiers carry the same weight as their male counterparts. Weight is determined by the Arm a soldier is in so a clerk in an Infantry unit should carry 15 kg for their AFT.

The Annual Fitness Test, together with the Personal Fitness Assessment (mile and a half run, press ups and sit ups)[1] are formalized in the British Army's Military Training Test as MATT 2. The Annual Fitness Test is gender free – all personnel have the same test regardless of age or gender, whilst the Personal Fitness Assessment is gender fair – service personnel have to reach a minimum standard in accordance with age group and gender – older personnel and females get more time. Tables for the PFA are below.

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Press-ups Age
<30 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
Gender/Category M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F
Green 44 21 41 19 39 16 35 15 29 13 25 11 21 9 17 7
Amber 43-34 20-13 40-31 18-11 38-29 15-10 34-26 14-9 28-21 12-7 24-16 10-6 20-13 8-4 16-9 6-2
Red 33 12 30 10 28 9 25 8 20 6 15 5 12 3 8 1
Sit-ups Age
<30 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
Gender/Category M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F
Green 50 46 43 37 34 32 27 23
Amber 49-40 45-38 42-33 36-27 33-26 31-23 26-17 22-13
Red 39 37 32 26 25 22 16 12
Run Age
<30 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
Gender/Category M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F
Green 10:30 13:00 11:00 13:30 11:30 14:00 12:00 14:30 12:30 15:00 13:30 16:00 14:10 16:40 14:40 17:10
Amber 10:31-11:15 13:01-14:00 11:01-11:50 13:31-14:30 11:31-12:20 14:01-15:00 12:01-12:55 14:31-15:30 12:31-13:30 15:01-16:00 13:31-14:40 16:01-17:05 14:11-15:23 16:41-17:43 14:41-15:58 17:11-18:16
Red 11:16 14:01 11:51 14:31 12:21 15:01 12:56 15:31 13:31 16:01 14:41 17:06 15:30 17:49 16:06 18:23

As from 2020/2021 a new set of fitness tests, the Role Fitness Test, have been introduced, which cover a broader range of physical performance but have the disadvantage of requiring equipment such as a hex bar for deadlifts, a pull up bar for pull ups, power-bags to lift and carry, and weighted bag (simulating a casualty) to drag. Unlike the PFA which could be done en-mass, with many parts the new tests takes more time and has the soldiers standing around waiting testing. Even the loaded march has been made more complicated with part having to be done at a set rate with a set weight, and then the next part at another set rate with a lesser weight. All of the test are gender free, and have been 'scientifically' devised.

See also

References

  1. Drake, Matt (2019-07-10). "Matt Drake". Authors group. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
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