In the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...
, the Annual Fitness Test is designed to assess soldiers' lower and upper body strength and endurance. The test was formerly known as the Combat Fitness Test – and is still colloquially known by soldiers as the CFT. The test involves a fast-paced march at fifteen minutes per mile (brisk and uncomfortable walking pace), in full combat gear including the
SA80 personal weapon, across rough terrain and on roads. The exact weight of the equipment carried depends upon the type of unit and it is usually (including helmet, webbing & rifle) 15 kg to 25 kg dependent on service or arm, but all will cover a distance of 8 miles in less than 2 hours.
Typically,
British Army Infantry
The Infantry of the British Army comprises 49 infantry battalions, from 19 regiments. Of these, 33 battalions are part of the Regular army and the remaining 16 a part of the Army Reserve. The British Army's Infantry takes on a variety of roles ...
units will carry the most weight (25 kg). Combat Support Arms,
Royal Engineers,
Royal Signals, and
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
) carry a lower amount of weight (20 kg). Combat Service Support Arms such as the
Army Medical Services
The Army Medical Services (AMS) is the organisation responsible for administering the corps that deliver medical, veterinary, dental and nursing services in the British Army. It is headquartered at the former Staff College, Camberley, near the ...
,
Royal Logistic Corps,
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and
Adjutant General's Corps carry (15 kg). Female soldiers carry the same weight as their male counterparts. Weight is determined by the Arm a soldier is in so a clerk in an Infantry unit should carry 15 kg for their AFT.
The Annual Fitness Test, together with the Personal Fitness Assessment (mile and a half run, press ups and sit ups)
are formalized in the British Army's Military Training Test as MATT 2. The Annual Fitness Test is the same regardless of sex – all personnel have the same test regardless of age or sex, whilst the Personal Fitness Assessment is ''gender fair'' – service personnel have to reach a minimum standard in accordance with age group and gender – older personnel and females get more time. Tables for the PFA are below.
.
As from 2020/2021 a new set of fitness tests, the Role Fitness Test, have been introduced, which cover a broader range of physical performance but have the disadvantage of requiring equipment such as a hex bar for deadlifts, a pull up bar for pull ups, power-bags to lift and carry, and weighted bag (simulating a casualty) to drag. Unlike the PFA which could be done en-masse, with many parts the new tests takes more time and has the soldiers standing around waiting testing. Even the loaded march has been made more complicated with part having to be done at a set rate with a set weight, and then the next part at another set rate with a lesser weight. All of the test are the same regardless of sex, and have been 'scientifically' devised.
See also
*
Physical Training Instructor
References
External links
Fitness requirements– British Army Recruiting
*
{{Military fitness tests
British Army training
Fitness tests