ACFT Training Tips
Expert advice and strategies to help you excel in the Army Combat Fitness Test
Training Frequency
Optimal training frequency depends on your current fitness level and recovery capacity. Here are some general guidelines:
- Beginners: 3-4 training sessions per week with at least one rest day between strength workouts
- Intermediate: 4-5 training sessions per week with targeted focus areas
- Advanced: 5-6 training sessions per week with periodized intensity
Remember that more training isn't always better. Quality and recovery are crucial for improvement.
Training Progression
Progressive overload is essential for continued improvement. Implement these strategies:
- Gradually increase weight in strength exercises (5-10% when possible)
- Add repetitions or sets before increasing weight
- Decrease rest periods to build endurance
- Incorporate periodization (varying intensity and volume)
Track your progress to ensure you're consistently challenging yourself.
Event Prioritization
Focus your training on your weakest events while maintaining performance in your stronger areas:
- Identify your lowest-scoring events
- Allocate 60-70% of training time to weakness improvement
- Maintain strengths with 1-2 sessions per week
- Reassess every 4-6 weeks and adjust focus
Test Preparation
Optimize your performance on test day with these strategies:
- Taper training 5-7 days before the test
- Practice event transitions and pacing
- Ensure proper hydration and nutrition 48 hours prior
- Get 7-9 hours of sleep for 2-3 nights before testing
- Have a test-day strategy for each event
Ready to Improve Your ACFT Score?
Use these training tips along with our other resources to maximize your performance.