Maryland Guard Intel Battalion prepares for Army Combat Fitness Test through Innovation and Agility

-

Story by Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg
58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade

REISTERTOWN, Md. – As the Army transitions to the Army Combat Fitness Test to asses Soldier fitness levels, the Maryland Army National Guard’s 629th Military Intelligence Battalion has embraced a program designed to enhance individual physical fitness routines while preparing for the new test.

Called ‘Fit to Serve,’ the voluntary program coaches Soldiers in fitness and nutrition, offers technology to track physical activity and sleep routines, and provides physical therapy resources with a focus on overall health wellness and resiliency.

“Anticipating the new Army fitness test, we are taking an extra step now to not only get our troops physically prepared for the dynamic events it brings, but also to build-up their confidence in themselves to overcome unforeseen challenges that may exist,” said Army Maj. Michael Bryant, the battalion commander.

The program is divided into stages that include setting individual fitness and health goals, assessing lifestyle behaviors, participating in virtual coaching and completing a variety of fitness programs and challenges.

The program was introduced to Army Sgt. Fatai Emiabata, a section leader within the battalion, in conversation with a tactical fitness specialist during a physical therapy session.

“I needed to find other ways to help my Soldiers get in better physical and mental shape for when we are called to mobilize domestically or deploy overseas,” Emiabata said. “This struck me as a great way to make that happen, so I took it to my leadership.”

From that start, others helped Emiabata build the program within the 629th, including Army 2nd Lt. Delvon Anderson, an intel officer and Army master fitness instructor in the battalion who also works as a personal trainer in his civilian life.

“Some Soldiers start training for today’s fitness test about 30-days beforehand because it’s just the push-ups, sit-ups, and run,” said Anderson. “You can’t do that with the new fitness test given it’s a whole integration of different physical aspects such as stability, coordination, and balance.”

Bryant added that the program not only helps Soldiers during drill weekends, but also when out of uniform in civilian life.

“The biggest thing for me is having a family-feel network outside of drill and challenging one another to succeed while learning meaningful life-lessons that’s more than just passing the fitness test,” said Bryant.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Soldier trains the trainers on new Army Combat Fitness Test standards

-
Image
By Steve Larson Public Affairs Office Sgt. 1st Class Randall Matlock was a platoon sergeant with the 1077th Ground Ambulance Company in Olathe, Kansas, when he learned the Army was looking for instructors to travel around the world, and educate Soldiers about the new Army Combat Fitness Test. “This test is a major change in the Army and is the first step towards a culture shift for fitness and Holistic Health and Fitness,” said Matlock. “It was a first-hand opportunity to learn the ACFT and Holistic Health and Fitness and take that knowledge back to the National Guard formation.” So, the Blackwell, Oklahoma, native applied and was accepted for the program. He was assigned to the Center for Initial Military Training in Fort Eustis, Virginia, as an Army Combat Fitness Test instructor on the Mobile Training Team. “When I found out I was accepted, I started training,” said Matlock. “I live in a small town and there weren’t standard Army climbing pods available. There was, however,
Read more

Pre-Ranger Course pushes Soldiers beyond limits

-
Image
By Sgt. ASHLEY M. MORRIS 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn Div FORT POLK, La. — Forty-two Soldiers from across the installation reported to Honor Field for the first day of the course to begin initial assessments Feb. 5. The Pre-Ranger Course is a prerequiste for those that want to attend Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. A mobile training team from 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, is visiting Fort Polk to teach the course . The first assessment of the day was the PRC physical fitness test, which included push ups, sit ups, a 5-mile run and pull ups. Then the physical and mental resolve of the remaining 26 Soldiers were tested as they continued to the next challenge — a comprehensive swim assessment. The Soldiers were instructed to complete a series of exercises in between events during the swim assessment. The exercises were meant to push the Soldiers, mentally and physically, to see how they perform under pressure. “Every day down at the line and in the units, these Sol
Read more

Soldiers train for ACFT while overseas

-
Image
Story by Sgt. Anna Churco  241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment     POZNAN, Poland-- The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) will become the Army physical test of record by October 2020, replacing the current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Consisting of six events, the new ACFT will test Soldiers’ mental toughness and stamina and better predict Soldiers’ readiness for a modern battlefield. Training for the ACFT is challenging, and Soldiers with 1st Infantry Division (FWD) (1 ID FWD) face the extra challenge of being deployed overseas while training.  Sgt. Samuel Pettis, a Cavalry Scout based out of Fort Riley, Kansas, has overcome this challenge and continued to train for the ACFT while being deployed with 1 ID (FWD) to Poland in support of Atlantic Resolve. Many Soldiers, including Pettis, have taken the initiative to join civilian gyms while deployed to non-combat regions to help maintain their physical readiness.  “It can be hard to find the right equipment here, b
Read more