The US Army Physical Fitness Test consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run, with a passing score of at least 60 on each exercise. Scores are based on age and gender, except for sit-ups. The test is required twice a year and is a factor in promotion decisions and passing Army Basic Training.
An army physical fitness test is a set of exercises that an army uses to test the strength and cardiovascular endurance of its soldiers. For the US Army, the three exercises that comprise the test are push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed 2-mile run. The United States Army requires soldiers to pass their Army Physical Fitness Test twice a year. Each exercise results in a numerical score from 0 to 100, and the soldier must score at least 60 on each exercise to pass the test. The US Army Physical Fitness Test is a factor in promotion decisions and is a requirement for passing Army Basic Training, although in that case, the minimum score per exercise is 50.
The scoring system for the US Army Physical Fitness Test takes into account a soldier’s performance in the exercise, his age, and his gender. The one exception to this is the sit-up test: scores for this test do not take gender into account. The score for each of the exercises varies according to the different age groups. Scoring standards, beginning with the 17-21 age group, steadily increase until a soldier reaches their 20s and 30s. Thereafter, the standards gradually decrease as the soldier’s age increases.
For both push-ups and sit-ups, scoring is based on the number of repetitions of the exercise the soldier can perform while maintaining proper form throughout the exercise. For the pushup, the soldier begins with hands on the ground, body in a straight line, and feet together or 12 inches apart. To complete a single repetition, the soldier must lower the chest toward the floor until the upper arms are parallel to the floor. At this point, he or she should push the body back to the starting position, arms locked. The soldier has two minutes to complete as many push-ups as possible.
The sit up requires the athlete to lie on their back with their knees bent at a 90 degree angle. The heel must remain on the ground at all times, and another person may hold the soldier’s feet using only their hands. The soldier’s hands should be clasped behind the soldier’s head. To complete a successful sit-up, the soldier must raise their body to an upright position, and the body must come to a full upright position with the neck above the spine for the sit-up to count. The soldier has two minutes to complete as many repetitions as possible.
The 2-mile run is a timed event that requires the soldier to run the full distance within a certain amount of time. The soldier must complete the race completely under his own power. Walking is allowed, but not recommended, and it is very difficult for a soldier to complete the run in the proper time if he is walking for a significant portion of the run.
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