Get some!

The Marine Corps Commandant is a badass

I was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps in August 1991.

At the time —and for the better part of my career— Marines were required to run a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) twice a year, once in the first six months and the other in the latter.

The PFT consists of three elements, which, back then, were a 3-mile run, with a maximum score of 100 points if you finished in 18 minutes or less; pull-ups, with 100 points awarded for banging out 20 of them; and 80 sit-ups in under two minutes earned you another 100 points.

I’m happy to say (okay, brag) that, throughout my career, I routinely crushed the PFT. I didn’t always come away with a perfect 300, but I was always close. And, when I fell short, I doubled down on my training to ensure that I’d ace the next one.

The thing is, though, if you’re someone who stays in shape, runs, and exercises, you’re essentially prepared to at least pass the PFT. Maybe you won’t max it out, but it’s not gonna hurt you.

On the other hand…

General James T. Conway, the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps

The Corps had realized for quite some time that the PFT wasn’t sufficiently challenging or a true test of functional fitness. So, in 2008, with General James Conway serving as Commandant, the Marine Corps introduced the Combat Fitness Test (CFT). Now, Marines would run the familiar PFT in the first half of the year and the CFT in the second.

For the record, the CFT will hurt you.

Like the PFT, the test consists of three elements, each carrying a max score of 100. However, that’s where the similarities end. Oh, and your usual LA Fitness routine will probably not be enough to prepare you for the CFT.