Since it was first introduced in 2008, the Combat Fitness Test has taken its place as a part of Marine Corps life. And while it’s still dreaded by some Marines, an analysis of data released by the Corps shows that high scores are relatively common.
That leads to another dilemma, captured in Marine Corps Times’ print edition this week: Should the Corps make the CFT harder? Marine officials aren’t ruling the idea out.
A full breakdown on how Marines have done on the test so far and what is possible in the future is available on newsstands now.
2 Comments
Years have passed and I look back at the many physical fitness tests we have taken, some combat related like carrying a simulated wounded person and climbing a rope with full gear on, to running 3 miles in under 25 minutes (we did it in 17), we were proud to have passed with flying colors. It never was a positive factor on promotion boards but not passing was a negative factor. That seems a bit backwards now that I think of it in hindsight and retirement. But we enjoyed the run anyway when we did it! Combat was another story, some commanders could never get beyond a garrison mentality as they never went out in the field. Lt’s and Capt were the only officers fighting the VN war, with an occaisional LTC or Major.
There are higher scores on the CFT for one major reason. Marines are in good shape despite all the bologna about Marines need to be skinnier bs going on over the last 5 years.