ACFT and Promotion Point Debate
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Crosspost from /r/army
Some friends and I were having quite the debate yesterday regarding the ACFT and how it will effect promotions (if its actually implemented).
One side saying, we should not count the ACFT for any promotion points and only use it as a diagnostic pass/ fail that allows you to stay in or not.
Another side saying equality is equality and those that believe that the test is discriminatory need to suck it up and deal with the first few years of potential promotion discrimination in order to allow it to play itself out and see what happens. They also stated maybe it will work itself out in the end.
My suggestion is somewhere in the middle wherein 3 events count for promotion:
T push ups
Leg tuck
2mi run
The other 3 only need to be completed on a pass/fail scale:
Deadlift
Sprint drag carry
Ball throw
There are a few reasons I suggest this. First, the 3 events to count for promotion are bodyweight exercises and merely have to do with moving your own weight in space and time. They assess endurance, muscular endurance, and strength. Finally, although many females (and males) may currently have difficulty with the leg tuck, it is absolutely trainable and with consistency anyone can get better at bodyweight exercises. Some may have to work harder than others to achieve the maximum on these skills, but that is part of life and it is attainable, which is key.
The other 3 events are the discriminatory events. Someone, male or female, who weighs 115lbs is not going to deadlift as much as someone who weighs 210lbs, for the most part. Also, there are a ton of reasons regarding how many soldiers may not actually train the DL properly and end up throwing out their back on the day of the test because they want to compete with their buddies that day.
The ball throw is discriminatory based off height, the taller you are the farther you will throw the ball, in general. One can not change their height.
Sprint drag carry is also a weighted event, making it harder for the smaller folk. 90lbs of drag for a 115lb person is 78% of their bodyweight. 90lbs for a 210lb person is 43% of their body weight. Someone can change their bodyweight but that is only to an extent.
The weighted events weight does not change, or only changes slightly. The bodyweight events is your own bodyweight and allows for improvement based on body composition and athleticism.
Obviously this is not perfect, but could be a happy medium.
I am wondering what you all think of this suggestion in particular.
Also, in accordance with my permabulk so I can one day deadlift 340lbs, I'll take a peanut butter milkshake.
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