Combat Fitness Test Calculator

The Combat Fitness Test is a physical test that every Marine must complete. The Combat Fitness Test dont measure how much weight a Marine can lifting during a bench press exercise. The Combat Fitness Test does not measure how fast a Marine can run a single mile on the installations track.

Instead, the Combat Fitness Test measures if a Marine can move while carrying a load, and it measures if a tired Marine can still be effective. Furthermore, the Combat Fitness Test also measures if a Marine can still perform good when a task is both time bound and difficult to perform. Because these different criteria is used to measure a Marines physical fitness during the Combat Fitness Test, the scoring for the Combat Fitness Test is more different than that of the physical fitness test.

How the Combat Fitness Test Works

There are three scored events for the Combat Fitness Test. Each of these events measure a different physical quality from the Marines. The first scored event is the movement to contact event.

Movement to contact consists of a Marine sprinting for 400 yard and then crawling the remaining 480 yards for a total distance of 880 yards. The second event is the ammo can lift. For this round, a Marine must lift a 30-pound ammo can for two minute.

The third scored event for the Combat Fitness Test is the maneuver under fire event. Maneuver under fire is a 300-yard obstacle course that includes sprints, crawls, carries, and a simulated drag of a casualty. Each of these events have separate tables to score each Marines performance during the test.

These tables change based off the age and sex of the Marine. Each of a Marine’s scores for each of the three events are summed to create a total score for the Combat Fitness Test. A score of 235 point is required for first class, 200 points for second class, and 120 points for third class.

Additionally, there is a 210-point floor that apply to certain combat-arms screening checks. A Marines age and sex are two important factors that determine there scores on the Combat Fitness Test. Younger Marines are expected to score higher on the test than older Marines.

Marines who are of a male sex are expected to score higher than female Marines. A calculator is available that will calculate a Marines total score. In order to enter the proper information into the calculator, a Marine’s age, sex, times for each event, and repetitions for each event are required.

However, the calculator cannot account for environmental factors that may impact a test. For instance, the calculator does not account for humidity levels. Additionally, a Marine may find it difficult to lift the 30-pound ammo can due to fatigue acquired during the test.

These factors are variables that a Marine must account for during the actual Combat Fitness Test. Many people will choose to train for the events that they find the least enjoyable during the Combat Fitness Test. A persons lowest score for any event will determine a persons class for the Combat Fitness Test.

Thus, it is more important for a Marine to increase their score for their lowest event than for any other event. The point values for each of the events can be seen within the reference tables included within the Combat Fitness Test. These tables indicate how many points each second or each repetition on any given event is worth for a person of any given age.

Because the events for the Combat Fitness Test are different than those of the Physical Fitness Test, Marines must train for the Combat Fitness Test in a different way. For instance, a Marine may be physically strong enough to run 1.5 miles without difficulty. However, that same Marine may struggle with the ammo can lifts if they have trained with there grip or shoulder strength.

Another example would be a Marine that can perform heavy deadlifts may struggle with maneuver under fire because they have not trained for this event. Thus, training for the Combat Fitness Test include sessions that perform all three events within a single session. Environmental factors can impact the performance of a Marine during the Combat Fitness Test.

However, the scoring tables for the Combat Fitness Test remain the same. Factors like heat, humidity, altitude, and the ground on which Marines must run can all impact the Marines during the test. For instance, a time that earns 95 points under ideal conditions might take more effort for the same Marines if the humidity in the area is high.

In response to these possible variables in performance of the test, many units will perform Combat Fitness Test practices in the same environment in which the Marines will complete the actual test. The combat-arms screening rule is used to create a separate requirement for certain Marines. For instance, even if a Marine earns a 235-point total score, the Marine must still earn at least 210 points for each of the three events individually.

For Marines in military occupational specialties, such combat arms, this rule must be followed to ensure that no single event is a low score. Thus, Marines in these military occupational specialties will focus on avoiding a low score in any individual event during the Combat Fitness Test. The combat fitness test must be performed within a single session.

Thus, a Marines fatigue from completing the movement to contact event can impact the performance of the ammo can lifts. Additionally, fatigue from the ammo can lifts may impact the performance in maneuver under fire. Thus, for a person to push as hard as possible in the movement to contact event, they may perform worse in ammo can lifts due to fatigue in those muscle.

A calculator can show the total score a Marine will earn on the Combat Fitness Test. However, the calculator cannot show how fatigue from one event impacts the performance in the next event in the session. For people to understand their physical strength, it is important to administer the Combat Fitness Test periodically.

For instance, by keeping track of individual scores for the Combat Fitness Test, a Marine can determine whether their training program is improving the appropriate events. For instance, if a persons score for any given event does not improve over time, then their training program may not be properly focused on improving that specific event. Similarly, if a Marines total score increases for the Combat Fitness Test but their score in any given event does not change, then the Marine is only improving in those events that they are naturaly skilled in performing.

By using this scoring and calculation tool, a Marine can remove the guesswork in creating a proper training program for themselves. Each of these components will allow a Marine to more effectively create a training program that will improve there scores on the Combat Fitness Test.