Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Although no form of training can completely replicate the strains of combat, there are some exercises that can come close.
Recruits of Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, finished their first combat fitness test at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 11. The Combat Fitness Test includes a 880-yard run, ammunition-can lifts and a maneuver under fire.
The CFT is a 300-point physical fitness test with an emphasis on functional fitness related to operational demands such as combat.
The 880-yard run kicks off the beginning of the CFT, the ammunition-can lifts are the second exercise and the maneuver-under-fire concludes the CFT. All stages of the CFT are conducted in boots and camouflage utilities.
Some of the combat-related exercises are conducted in the maneuver-under-fire portion of the event. In this section, recruits are required to perform a fireman’s carry and throw a dummy grenade to a designated area.
“I think the CFT is beneficial because things like the fireman’s carry are techniques you would use in combat, and that gives us a different outlook on what a combat experience could be like,” said Recruit Tristan B. Butler, Platoon 2163.
Each section of the CFT was graded, but because it was the recruit’s introduction to the exercise, it was not recorded.
Half way through the CFT, some recruits showed signs of fatigue and pain. Some recruits said they were trying hard despite being sick and others spoke of the minor injuries they were fighting through.
“My calf is killing me, and I’m pretty sure I pulled it,” said Butler, Platoon, a Showlow, Ariz., native. “But I just visualize my wife and son waiting for me at the end of the exercise, and it gets me to perform better.”
Recruit Hunter D. Buley, Platoon 2162, said his goal for the exercise was to get a perfect score. Each event is worth 100 points for a total of 300.
“To get a perfect score would give me a sense of pride because it takes a lot to accomplish that,” said Buley. “If you push yourself, it’s very difficult and even if you don’t, the CFT is still difficult.”
Although neither Buley nor Butler received a perfect score, they both explained it’s not a failure but rather a new goal to work toward.
“I’m going to continue work out and get stronger,” said Buley. “Every CFT after this my score will get better.”