(54) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARMY COMBAT FITNESS TEST SCORES, JUMP AND PULLUP TESTS

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is the United States Army’s new physical fitness test of record. The ACFT consists of six total events, with several new events measuring strength and power. The relationship between common field tests of strength/power and ACFT performance have not been investigated.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ACFT performance and common vertical jump and pullup tests in Army ROTC cadets.

Methods: Male (n = 17) and female (n = 6) Army ROTC cadets conducted the ACFT according to Army guidelines. On a separate day, vertical jump performance was assessed with static-start squat jumps and countermovement jumps using a jump mat. All jumps were performed with a PVC pipe on the back for standardization. Eccentric Utilization Ratio was calculated as countermovement jump height /squat jump height. After 5 minutes of rest, cadets performed a maximum repetition pull-up test at a standardized grip width with the thumb in line with the acromioclavicular joint. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between total ACFT score, individual ACFT events and vertical jump height, Eccentric Utilization Ratio, and number of pullups completed. Statistical significance was set at α < .05.

Results: Squat jump and countermovement jump height both had significant positive correlations with total ACFT score (r = .44, p = .03; r = .47, p = .02, respectively). Squat jump and countermovement jump had significant correlations (p < .05) with each individual event (r = -.71 to .73, r = -.74 to .78, respectively) other than Plank (r = .26, r = .29, respectively) and 2-Mile Run (r = -.28, r = -.33, respectively). Eccentric Utilization Ratio demonstrated no relationship with ACFT score (r = .02, p = .92) or with any of the six individual tests (r = -.15 to .22). Pullup repetitions had a significant positive correlation with total ACFT score (r = .61, p < .01) and all individual events (r = -.63 to .66) other than the Plank (r = .39, p = .07).

Conclusions: Lower body power output as measured by vertical jumps may exert a strong influence on ACFT performance. Squat jumps and countermovement jumps showed similar relationships with ACFT scores, and the Eccentric Utilization Ratio may be of little utility when analyzing the influence of the stretch-shortening cycle in this context. Upper body strength as measured by the pullup may also influence ACFT performance. Performance on the Plank event was not related to these common field tests. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Tactical strength and conditioning coaches can use simple expedited field tests of pullups and countermovement jumps to estimate ACFT performance, without needing to calculate Eccentric Utilization Ratio. Estimating performance on the Plank and the 2-Mile Run events may require different field tests and different training methods than those for the other four events of the ACFT, which rely on strength and power production.

 

Acknowledgements: None