Army leg tuck standards how to#

On that test, soldiers got graded differently on the three exercises based on their age and gender. He added that the new test is more gender- and age-neutral than the old test of situps, pushups and the run. Now soldiers will be able to choose to hold a plank position for about two minutes, which also requires core strength. So, the Army agreed to offer an alternative. Michael Grinston acknowledged that the data showed that female soldiers were particularly struggling with the exercise. “As you look at those service members who have been in the Army, especially fifteen, twenty years and have never been asked to build the upper body strength necessary to do a pull up or do a leg tuck, it gets significantly harder as they get older to build that strength,” said Hibbard, commander of the Army’s Center for Initial Military Training.Īrmy Sgt. The leg tuck, said Hibbard, was the “number one failed event for both men and women,” as well as for older soldiers. And it quickly became clear that the leg tuck was a problem.

After much study, they jettisoned the longtime test of sit-ups, pushups and a 2-mile run, and developed a more grueling fitness exam that adds dead lifts, power throws, a sled drag and other exercises designed to make soldiers more fit and ready for combat.Īs they started to roll out the new test, they knew that adjustments would have to be made.

Army leg tuck standards how to#

And second, it accounts for the recognized physiological differences between men and women, and it removes the direct competition between males and females within the service.”įor years, Army leaders have been wrestling with how to change the physical fitness test to better reflect combat requirements and improve the overall fitness of the force. Lonnie Hibbard, “fosters and recognizes above-average physical performance, something that’s inherent to the Army culture.

That ranking category would then show up on internal reports for promotions or other competitive assignments where a higher physical fitness score could be a deciding factor. For example, if they score in the top 1% of their gender, they are in the platinum category, or if they are in the top 10% of their gender, they are in the gold group. Soldiers will be assigned a ranking based on how they did compared to others of the same gender. The minimum score for passing is 60 points on each event, for a total of 360, and the maximum is 100 points for each event, for a total of 600. Under that system, all soldiers will take the fitness test, which includes six different exercise events. In a sweeping nod to gender differences, Army leaders said Monday they are also going to create a new tiered system that will mask some of the fitness score differences between men and women when it comes to promotions or other job selections. That new option is just one of the changes Army leaders are making in their struggle to create a fitness test that is gender and age neutral, but that also doesn’t end up disadvantaging female or older soldiers who simply aren’t as strong as their younger male counterparts. Now, soldiers will have the option of choosing another exercise called the plank, that also shows core strength. On Monday, it ended its requirement that soldiers do at least one leg tuck - where they hang from a bar and pull their knees up near their shoulders - as part of the new physical fitness test, as it became clear that many troops - particularly women - were unable to do it. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army is kicking out the leg tuck.