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We Tried the Military Fitness Test as Regular Guys — Humbling
Posted by OP_PFT · 5d ago · ▲ 845
My friend group has this annual tradition where we do something physically stupid together. Last year was a Tough Mudder (three of us quit). The year before was a hot yoga class (two guys nearly passed out). This year, someone said "let's take the Marine PFT and see where we stack up."
For those who don't know, the Marine Physical Fitness Test is:
• Pull-ups — max reps (dead hang, full extension)
• Crunches — max in 2 minutes
• 3-mile run — timed
Simple, right? Three exercises. How hard could it be?
Humbling. The answer is humbling.
The Results (6 guys, ages 24-28):
Pull-ups: Ranged from 4 (our buddy Kevin who "has long arms" — his excuse, not mine) to 16 (me, and I was shaking by #14). Marine max score requires 23. None of us came close.
Crunches: This was our best event. Ranged from 68 to 105 in 2 minutes. Most of us cleared the max score threshold of 105... barely. One guy hit 110 and celebrated like he'd won the Olympics.
3-mile run: This is where it fell apart. Times ranged from 22:14 (respectable) to 31:47 (Kevin again — in his defense he was still recovering from the pull-ups, emotionally). Marine max score is 18:00. The closest any of us got was 22 minutes.
The Scoreboard:
Using the official Marine scoring chart, our group average was a 215 out of 300. That's a first-class score technically, but it felt like a participation trophy. Real Marines are hitting 280+. We were gassed after the run and they'd be heading to training.
Biggest takeaway: cardiovascular fitness is a different beast than gym fitness. Four of us lift weights 4-5 days a week and we were DYING on that 3-mile run. Meanwhile Marines are doing this on 4 hours of sleep and an MRE.
Respect to anyone who serves. Your fitness standards are no joke.
Anyone else tried a military fitness test as a civilian? How'd you do?
Comments
KevinLongArms
the guy
5d ago
▲ 567
I need to address several things. 1) My arms ARE long. The biomechanical disadvantage is real and documented. 2) The 31:47 was because I had a cramp at mile 2. 3) I did FIVE pull-ups, not four. The fifth one was contested but I crossed the bar and I'll die on that hill.
OP_PFT
5d ago
▲ 489
Kevin, I have video evidence. The 5th one was a chin-level hover. It did not count. We voted.
KevinLongArms
5d ago
▲ 356
The vote was 3-3. You broke the tie. This is not democracy.
active_marine
USMC
4d ago
▲ 456
This is actually pretty solid for civilians who didn't train specifically for the PFT. 16 pull-ups is no joke. The run time gap is the biggest thing — we run constantly. Like, constantly. You don't realize how much military cardio there is until you try to match it from a gym-only background.
OP_PFT
4d ago
▲ 345
That means a lot coming from someone who actually does this. The run absolutely exposed us. Leg press doesn't prepare you for 3 miles.
army_version
regular
3d ago
▲ 312
Try the Army Combat Fitness Test next. It's 6 events: deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and 2-mile run. The sprint-drag-carry will RUIN you. It's the event that separates gym strength from functional fitness.
crossfit_guy
regular
3d ago
▲ 234
This is exactly why CrossFit exists as a training methodology — the combination of strength AND cardio. Most gym bros can bench a lot but can't run a mile fast. Most runners can run but can't do 15 pull-ups. The military needs both simultaneously.
grandpa_flex
regular
2d ago
▲ 198
My dad is 52 and still passes the Air Force PT test every year. Last year I challenged him to a push-up contest and he beat me by 15 reps. The man does not let me forget this. He brings it up at Thanksgiving. He brought it up at my WEDDING.
dad_strength
2d ago
▲ 267
Dad strength is real, documented, and terrifying.