The Relationship between the Individual Events within the U.S. Army’s Combat Fitness Test and a Simulated Marksmanship Performance Task

Abstract

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the U.S. Army’s new physical fitness test, was introduced to assess operationally relevant combat physical fitness. The present study assessed the relationship between performance in the individual events of the ACFT and a simulated marksmanship task. Results indicate that higher ACFT scores align with better marksmanship lethality, mobility, and stability. Notably, upper body strength, explosiveness, and agility demonstrated significant positive associations with marksmanship effectiveness. However, nuances emerged, with some ACFT events showing mixed correlations with marksmanship metrics. Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between physical fitness and marksmanship proficiency, essential for optimizing military readiness. Overall, the presented results provide evidence that ACFT performance can provide valuable insight on Soldiers’ readiness beyond just physical fitness.

Keywords: Marksmanship, Lethality, Military, Physical Performance, Fitness, Test Methodologies

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005021