Page 11 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, July 2019

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Army to conduct assessment of alternate ACFT events
By U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training Staff
Following successful initial field testing, Army senior leaders have approved the develop- ment of alternate Army Combat Fitness Test assessments for selected Soldiers with permanent profiles that prevent full participation in the six-event test.
Although final determination of standards will not be completed until Oct. 1, 2019, the Army’s lead for development and fielding of the ACFT, the Center for Initial Military Train- ing, will soon begin evaluating alternate test events at 63 Army units.
The events selected for further testing include a 5,000 meter row, a 15,000 meter station- ary bike and a 1,200 meter swim. Each event will be completed in a set time, targeted at 25 minutes or less.
If approved, Soldiers with a permanent profile will be required to successfully complete at a minimum the 3-Repetition Maximum Deadlift, the Sprint-Drag-Carry and one of the aerobic events. The alternate events measure minimum attributes Soldiers need to fight, render aid to others and decrease risk to themselves in a combat environment.
CIMT’s director of research and analysis, Michael McGurk, emphasized that Soldiers with a permanent injury or condition that limits their ability to complete a full six-event ACFT may be allowed to test with a modified assessment.
“Those Soldiers with permanent profiles may also undergo a Medical Retention Board and Physical Evaluation Boards to determine fitness for further military duty,” McGurk said. “Part of those reviews may be tied to their ability to pass a modified assessment. This allows commanders to deploy these Soldiers ‘with risk’ and determine if the risk is acceptable based on Soldiers’ skills and nature of the mission.”
McGurk further emphasized that Soldiers with permanent physical limitations will test on all ACFT events within the limits of their profiles.
“We are concerned with permanent profiles that prevent Soldiers from full six-event test execu- tion, not permanent profiles such as hearing or vision,” McGurk said. “For example, those permanent profile Soldiers who are incapable of running long distances, they could be allowed to complete an alternate aerobic event.”
Senior leaders are stressing that while the ACFT and alternate assessment events are tough, the events will provide commanders the information they need to determine if the risks are acceptable based on a Soldier’s mission.
Sean Kimmons
Soldiers with a permanent profile assigned to the 63 units field testing the Army Combat Fitness Test will complete the Sprint-Drag-Carry as one of the three aerobic events within an alternate assessment. Final determination of standards will be complete by Oct. 1, 2019.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey said he is “truly excited” about the significant progress made during the testing period for the ACFT.
“I truly believe this will take us where we need to be in terms of fitness for the Army,” he said. “It’s clear the ACFT requires us to put more emphasis on physical training.”
High Desert Warrior 11 July 5, 2019
News
More than 200 youth turn out for Vacation Bible School on post
Story and Photos courtesy of Religious Support Office (RSO)
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — The National Training Center/Fort Irwin Religious Support Office (RSO) held its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) from June 3-7, welcoming dozens of children and volunteers. This year’s theme was “Roar: Life is Wild but God is Good.”
NTC Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ric Brown said, “The greatest challenge in holding VBS in the military, is finding the best time to hold it. You want to have VBS after school has let out, but not too late that you have lost your volunteer base due to permanent change of station moves.”
The RSO’s purpose for VBS is to not just minister to those who regularly attend the chapel services, but to be an outreach to the Fort Irwin Community. Under the senior leadership of Stefanie Cole and her trusty side kick Katie Coghill, the VBS program was a Roaring success. Chaplain Brown VBS is not just about caring for the kids who attend chapel programs regularly, it is about reaching out to the community and ministering to all of Fort Irwin. There were 219 kids that attended the week-long program with an amazing 97 volunteers to help minister to those kids. The chapel program is dependent upon their volunteers to ensure the success of their programs and Brown said the volunteers did an amazing job with the kids. The main tenet the youth learned during the week is “When life is...unfair, scary, sad, good, or changes...God is good.”
The volunteers made the week of Vacation Bible School highly interactive, informative and fun for the 200+ children who showed up to enjoy.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin