MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, SC -- Marines across the Depot got down and dirty and were left breathless during a test-run of the proposed Combat Fitness Test recently.
The fitness test, which is still under development, was formed to better measure the functional elements of Marines' combat fitness levels. It was initiated by the Commandent of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway to better prepare Marines for the physical rigors of the battlefield.
Marines who ran it here said the CFT left them "breathless," and they exerted themselves more than they expected.
And the CFT still isn't finished.
"The Combat Fitness Test still hasn't been finalized," stated Col. Brian McGuire, the Combat Fitness Test Development officer-in-charge in an e-mail exchange. "It remains a work in progress."
A finalized CFT may be coming soon, but it will not replace the Physical Fitness Test Marines are used to.
"The Commandant of the Marine Corps' guidance is that the CFT will complement the PFT and will be able to be done by all Marines in most locations where they operate, both garrison and deployed," McGuire explained. "The PFT is a good general test of overall fitness. The CFT will provide commanders an assessment of a Marine's overall combat conditioning."
To accomplish this, the CFT will be composed of several exercises that simulate combat-like events, such as movement to contact, which is an 880-yard run, ammo lift and maneuver under fire.
Of the events, the one that gained the most interest, was the maneuver under fire.
"The maneuver under fire event is essentially a 300-yard shuttle that requires a Marine to sprint, do a modified high crawl, negotiate a series of cones in a diagonal fashion, drag a simulated casualty and execute a fireman's carry," McGuire said. "The maneuver under fire event is the most physically demanding part of the proposed CFT."
Marines also said it was the most fun part of the CFT.
"The maneuver under fire was fun," said Col. Krista Crosetto, the Depot's assistant chief-of-staff for Quality Management. "You were changing what you were doing all the time. You were sprinting, crawling, throwing a grenade. It was exciting."
Although fun, the proposed CFT definitely isn't easy.
"It took me to my limit," Crosetto explained. "It was a real eye-opener for me."
Crosetto isn't the only Marine to feel that way.
"The CFT definitely requires you to push yourself past what you knew to be your physical limitations," said Staff Sgt. Pettal Black, a drill instructor with 4th Recruit Training Battalion's Papa Company. "You really had to push yourself out of your comfort zone."
Even salty old gunnys thought the CFT was difficult.
"The combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises really increases the heart rate quickly," said Gunnery Sgt. Travis Antoine, the band master for the Parris Island Marine Band. "My heart rate didn't go down to normal until 30 minutes afterward."
Capt. Samuel Bluntzer, the Headquarters and Service Battalion operations officer, shared Antoine's opinion.
"It's very challenging if you push yourself," Bluntzer said. "It really stretches you out."
It wasn't as if McGuire didn't understand what the Marines were talking about. He ran the CFT at Quantico, Va.
"It was a challenge of the anaerobic energy system along with testing agility, coordination, balance and accuracy," McGuire said. "It's a good complement to the PFT."
Marines may be ready for the CFT to be initiated, but there are still some plans being worked out such as how the CFT will be scored.
"Courses of actions are being developed to present to the Commandant of the Marine Corps," McGuire said. "There are pass or fail options along with a scoring system similar to the PFT."
Regardless of which option is chosen, the CFT will count toward promotion.
"The Commandant has directed that the CFT count toward promotion and retention," McGuire added. "If it is averaged with the PFT score is still unknown at this time."
McGuire also said the PFT and CFT will not be completed on the same day. That puts to rest some of the rumors about the test.
The Parris Island CFT trial was beneficial, but it wasn't by far, the final assessment scheduled.
The Parris Island data collection site was the first visit of several large-scale site visits that will be used to finalize proposed CFT events, McGuire explained. McGuire is also planning to visit Pensacola, Fla., Twentynine Palms, Calif., MCRD San Diego, Calif., Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Okinawa, Japan.
McGuire emphasized that the CFT taken on Parris Island was not the finalized version, but training for it will still be beneficial to Marines.
Regardless of when the CFT is ready, Marines around the Corps are eagerly waiting for the new test to come their way.