MCRD San Diego -- In combat, Marines have been known for their prowess in war and their ability to push through the fog of war regardless of circumstances.
Today, recruits are being tested on their ability to do the same in recruit training as they move forward in becoming United States Marines.
Recruits of Company A, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, tested their strength and endurance in the Combat Fitness Test June 21aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
“It’s a stepping stone for recruits to complete the CFT,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Alexander Thompson, lead series chief drill instructor, Co. A, 1st RTBn. “It’s all a part of becoming a basic trained Marine.”
The CFT has three events which include: movement-to-contact, ammunition-can lift and maneuver-under-fire.
Movement to contact is an 880-yard run in boots and utility trousers. The second portion of the test involves raising a 30-pound ammunition-can, fully extending the arms upward for two minutes, earning points for the number of lifts done in the given time.
The last part of the test consists of a 25-yard crawl, hauling a simulated casualty using two different carries over 75 yards through cones, a sprint while carrying two 30-pound ammunition cans over 75 yards through the same cones, throwing a dummy hand grenade into a marked circle 22.5 yards away, 3 pushups and a sprint with the ammo cans to the finish line.
The CFT is more dynamic and anaerobic which gives a broader spectrum of physical fitness, according to Sgt. Christopher G. Woidt, drill instructor, Platoon 1010, Co. A, 1st RTBn.
“It sets a standard of physical fitness,” said Woidt. “It puts recruits in the mindset of pushing past distress and fatigue.”
Recruits of Co. A have completed the CFT twice before and have learned to put as much effort into it as they can, according to Woidt.
“I felt prepared and confident going into the CFT,” said Recruit Rhys M. Beckham, Plt. 1013, Co. A, 1st RTBn. “In a way, because of how combat oriented the CFT is, I feel like it was just a small taste of what’s to come later on in the fleet.”
The CFT is another final event recruits must complete before graduation. Overall it has improved their combat readiness and will allow them to be better prepared, should they earn the title Marine.
“We’re all pretty excited, knowing that the CFT is another final event towards graduation,” said Beckham. “The CFT is tough and challenging, but that’s what the Marine Corps is all about.”