United States Marine “NavaTheBeast” and Airman Kyle Gott teamed up together to take on the Marine PFT and see how well they could fare on the test.
Airman Kyle Gott attempts the pull-up test (YouTube)
For Gott, this was the first time he had ever done the Marine PFT test, and for him, it was not easy. He said there is a major difference in the physical requirements between the Airman’s PT test and the Marine PFT.
Fitness is one of the most vital selection criteria of the US Marine Corps. The Corps considers physical fitness a crucial element of leadership. After all, if you aren’t strong enough, how are you going to protect the nation? Moreover, the self-discipline required for building and maintaining optimal physical fitness is also a necessity when joining the Corps.
Strength, perseverance, and hard work build character, and this is a way of life for the Marine Corps. The reason why such emphasis is laid on the physical fitness test is because Marines who are not fit or strong enough cannot be a warrior, and can also hinder the performance of the rest of the team.
There are two main components to the test: The Physical Fitness Test, and the Body Composition Program.
The PFT is conducted twice a year, and has three events: pull-ups (or flexed-arm hang for females), abdominal crunches, and a 3-mile run. All PFT events are held in a single session, and the maximum duration is not supposed to exceed two hours.
Airman Kyle Gott attempts the sit-up portion of the test (YouTube)
In January 2017, the Marine Corps brought some changes to its PFT by updating the fitness standards. A new exercise option in the form of push-ups was added, and the maximum and minimum repetitions for each event were changed, along with the minimum standards getting harder. There has also been the creation of new age groups to indicate the appropriate changes in average age and fitness capability.
Wondering what the perfect PFT score is? It is 300 points. To be able to accomplish this, males must complete 20 pull-ups, 100 crunches in less than 120 seconds, and finish the three-mile run in 18 minutes or less. For females this requires flexed arm hang for 70 seconds, 100 abdominal crunches, and a three mile run in 21 minutes.
At the end of the video, Gott said that he wished the Air Force was stricter with its fitness standards.
Check out this video to see how well an U.S. Airman stacks up against a U.S. Marine during the Marine PFT.
