The Leg Tuck Workout: A Thing of the Past in Army Physical Fitness Test

In a bid to create a more comprehensive test for measuring fitness, the US Army has decided to eliminate the leg tuck event from its physical fitness test. This move comes after a decade-long effort to replace the old three-event test, the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), which has been in use since 1983.

The decision to drop the leg tuck workout is largely due to concerns that it does not strictly measure core muscle strength, but also requires soldiers to spend a lot of energy on upper-body and grip strength. Instead, the Army has introduced planks as an alternative event during its beta phase, which was discovered to be more effective in measuring core strength.

The leg tuck workout was previously part of the Army's Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), which was designed to assess soldiers' physical fitness levels. The test also includes other events such as deadlifts, hand-release pushups, standing power throws, two-mile runs, and sprints. However, data showed that the run event is by far the most failed event for both genders, leading the Army to extend the minimum run time for male soldiers.

The changes to the ACFT are aimed at creating a more inclusive test that measures core strength, grip strength, and overall physical fitness. The new test also takes into account gender differences in physical abilities, with female soldiers having different requirements for deadlifts and runs compared to their male counterparts.

For example, female soldiers between 17 and 21 years old now have to deadlift between 120 and 210 pounds, while male soldiers in the same age group must lift between 140 and 340 pounds. Similarly, female soldiers have to run two miles within a certain time frame, which is longer than that required of their male counterparts.

Overall, the elimination of the leg tuck workout from the Army's physical fitness test reflects the service branch's commitment to creating a more comprehensive and inclusive assessment of physical fitness.

Leg tuck workout