A better, safer, less expensive alternative to the new Army PT test?

I think a lot of people are going to be injured by this PT test.

Agree with many of the Points about the ACFT, from the article in the Army Times. The ACFT will INCREASE injuries during testing and training for the ACFT- especially in the Reserve Component & older Soldiers. It is just a fact among people in the Army or any civilian occupation with a physical component- when you get older your body tends to break down more frequently.

LeBron is now 34, and has suffered a groin injury that has taken a LONG TIME for him to recover from. And he is a world-class athlete, that spends $100s of thousands of dollars on nutrition, specialized training regimens, and personal trainers. The Army Soldier with limited resources & can't do that for themselves- they will be injured at a much higher rate IMO.

If the goal is to measure ability to walk with a ruck or to carry a person or to do a quick short sprint with gear, why don't we test it by... I don't know... Maybe walking with rucks, carrying people, or sprinting with gear?

We keep trying to come up with inventive ways of testing fitness. Just test the ACTUAL things we want Soldiers to do. And hey, look... No equipment to buy!