Canadian Armed Forces Battle Fitness Test Challenge

[Just_a_Captain]

I'm in the CAF, and like all soldiers, we have to do our annual Battle Fitness Test (BFT).  We have to cover 13kms in 2 hours and 26 minutes, 20 seconds while carrying 24.5 kgs of kit.

I think that would make a great FITBIT challenge for someone to develop.  And if you pass you get some sort of badge (An army boot with a mapl leaf on it)

Start easy by just challenging people to try it without kit and for those that want to, with a ruck sack.

I know that other NATO Armies have similar test, and if those could be turned into FITBIT Challenges that would be cool too.  People could see how fit they really are and what Army/Branch of service they could join..

What do you think?

Cheers

[USAF-Larry]

I would say I miss those old fitness tests, @Just_a_Captain, but I don't! 

[Leau]

I love it when fitbit sets up challenges. I enjoyed each one of the park walks with the pictures. It would be fun if they would set up your idea, with pictures along the way of different troops working along with you. That would get me to motivate and not wimp out on any of the adventures.

[shipo]

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@Just_a_Captain wrote:

I'm in the CAF, and like all soldiers, we have to do our annual Battle Fitness Test (BFT).  We have to cover 13kms in 2 hours and 26 minutes, 20 seconds while carrying 24.5 kgs of kit.

I think that would make a great FITBIT challenge for someone to develop.  And if you pass you get some sort of badge (An army boot with a mapl leaf on it)

Start easy by just challenging people to try it without kit and for those that want to, with a ruck sack.

I know that other NATO Armies have similar test, and if those could be turned into FITBIT Challenges that would be cool too.  People could see how fit they really are and what Army/Branch of service they could join..

What do you think?

Cheers

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We had a different test when I was in the Marines back in the 1970s; burn through three miles as fast as you could, simple as that.

For the Canadian test I have the following questions:

• Is it on a paved surface, a smooth dirt surface, or a broken trail?
• Is the pack fully suspended from the shoulders or is there a waist strap which transfers much of the weight to the torso?
• Is the entire distance meant to be walked, or can one jog/run it?
• Is the time limit for all ages, or do us old farts have longer to complete the course?

For my part, the distance itself is easy; it typically takes me 70 minutes to run 13km on a smooth dirt trail and as much as 90 minutes to do that distance on a broken/rocky trail.  I may load up my back pack this weekend and see how quickly I can traverse 13km on my local trail.  🙂

[Just_a_Captain]

Good Day,

It’s the basic fitness test used by the Canadian Army to ensure all soldiers are fit to be deployed into Combat.  Doesn’t matter if you’re a Cook or a Paratrooper, everyone has to pass this basic test.

The weight of 24.5 kg (54 lbs) comes from how much the average uniform, weapon, helmet, and basic field load a soldier carries actually weights.

The type of path is not specified, but normally done on a road either paved or loose gravel.

The young lads/lasses can get this done in just under two hours without trying.  But for older guys like me who are close to retirement…the last 3 kms are the hardest.  And that **ahem** clock seems to go twice as fast for them. J

It’s one of the reasons why I’d like FITBIT to develop the challenge ICON so I can train for it constantly.

Also, some of my best soldiers are women, but they have a harder time with BFT than the men.  Reason is the average male soldier weights between 160-200 lbs so the weight load is between 1/3 to 1/4  their body weight.  The average female soldier weights between 95-120 lbs so the weight load is closer to 1/2 their body weight. So really, it’s a whole different test for them.

Having a FITBIT challenge ICON will help them train and stay motivated as well.

And to break up the training it would be amazing if FITBIT could make up a bunch of Military Challenge ICONs for all the various NATO services.  So anyone could try them to see if they are fit enough for the US Marines, British Army, German Army, Spanish Marines…etc.

I hope enough people like this idea and vote for it.

Cheers

[Just_a_Captain]

Thanks!

I love your idea about the different soldier pics motivating you to keep going.

That would be so cool…and very realistic.  There is always soldiers waiting near the end to run in with guys who are hurting. They cheer them on and help them over the “hump” and get them across the finish line.  Team effort, always.

Hopefully if enough people will vote for this…and it will happen.

Cheers.

[garybartlett]

@Just_a_Captain  If you get enough responses to make this program real, I'd like you to think about a category for us old retired guys (age 72) whose days of carrying 50 lb packs are long past (or never were ) but can and do continue to walk (always leading off with the left foot --- or was it the right?).  "Can Still Move" is a good title for an award.

Cheers,

Gary, F/L RCAF,  Radio Officer on the Argus, probably before you were born :-))

[Just_a_Captain]

Thanks Gary.

I invision it as the user can choose if they want the ruck on our not.  And how much weight.

The goal is to cover the distance in the time allotted. 

If you're training for it like I have to, you can slowly add the weight till you're bang it off in in 2 hrs with the 54 lbs.

If you're just looking for something "fun" to try to keep yourself moving, you do it to the level you want.

And if you're a Commando, then we all know you're running it with 100 lbs. 🙂

Cheers

[garybartlett]

@Just_a_Captain Seems like you/re built plenty of flexibiity in there.  Tnx

Cheers,

Gary                         

[A_Lurker]

So, let me start by saying that there's no way I would pass this criteria (not now at least).  The scary thing is that a number of years ago I had the summer off and spent it walking (some short sprints and/or jogging).  I did usually 5-10km per day.  I just google-earthed the most common track I took and it was almost exactly 8km from start to the turn-around point.  I'm pretty sure I was doing the 16km in well under 3 hours.  I say that because at the time my pace was between 5.5 and 6 km/hour.  Of course I carried no pack, except my body (which at that point was around the same weight I am now, which meant I was carrying at least 100kg more than I should weigh).  Change of life and lifestyle and although I'm now back to the same weight, my fitness level isn't as high.  It will be again, just not for a while.

[Just_a_Captain]

Like everything in life, you just have to work at it.  It's something you have to work up to.  Even in the Canadian Army, we do a lot of work ups to this challenge before you have to do the full 13 km with 24.5 kgs.

You start off slow by seeing if you can make the pace for an hour.  Then you slowly add weight and increase the distance.  Before you know it, you're smashing out the 13 km with 24.5 kgs in less than two hours and feeling great doing it.

It why I'm trying to get FITBIT to develop the challange.  Then anyone can try it, at various stages of weight, to see if they are at that level. 

Hopefully enough people will vote for it and it will become one.

Cheers!

[mcrmama]

A lot of these types of challenges would be neat to try and work on.  You could have different levels/badges as people progress in their fitness level as well whether that is based on time or the amount of weight you can carry and succeed.  I think I could do the distance in the time, but wold take some work to make it with the weight while doing so, that would take some work to get there but would be fun to work on.  

[Just_a_Captain]

Hi mcrmama,

It's the same for us all.  You have to slowly work up to it.  It's why I'm trying to get the app built by fitbit.

Hopefully enough people will vote for it and make this happen.

Cheers

[mcrmama]

Yes, I don't mind working towards it at all. I love a challenge and making a plan to get there.

[mcrmama]

It is nice to see another Canadian by the way! I see many wearing fitbits now.

[jfj.green]

I'm into it. Just applied to the Navy. 

I just lost ~65 lbs and am now ~125lbs. Started ruck marching 2 months ago and have progressed from 8lbs over 10km, to 32lbs over 10km. This was based on advice from the local recruitment office.

Now I've located the official testing specs and see that it's as you've stated. That's fine I've been wearing big boots, jeans, and carrying a full water bottle and some peripherals, so I'll start weighing my total, and subtracting my body weight to figure out where I'm at in terms of testing prep. Oh, and I'll extend the distance. Currently my 10kms have averaged ~2hours or less, and this has not been impacted by additional weight. 

It's true tho about the weight, and the proportion. The more weight in my ruck, the harder it is to be upright! 😂

Whole different layer to the testing! Makes sense though!

Amazing how the body can adapt when you work it everyday! 

Anyway, I'd love to be able to track this as an exercise and get points or badges somehow!