Gauge Your Fitness Level Using The Marine Corps Test
So you’ve decided to get into shape. Before you put on your running shoes or hit the gym, it may be worth knowing just how out of shape you are—you know for motivation. The Marine Corps Fitness test can help.
Photo by DVIDSHUB.
The Marine Corps Fitness test is comprised of three parts: pull-ups, crunches and a 4.8-kilometre run. All three tests must be performed in one continuous session, and you only have up to two hours to complete as much as you can.
Each exercise has specific instructions, so concerning the crunches, for example, if your derrière isn’t in constant contact with the ground and both your arms don’t remain in constant contact with your rib cage throughout, that crunch doesn’t count.
Hit up the below link to see the minimum fitness requirements for your age group. As a potential benchmark, the highest score involves performing 20 pull-ups, 100 crunches in two minutes and running 4.8 kilometres in 18 minutes.
Take the Marine Corps Fitness Test [Art of Manliness]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
It's been 3 months shy of 45 years since I graduated from the USMC at Parris Island. I made a vow that I would never do sit-ups or crunches again or RUN anywhere when I got out in 1970.
Caption Contest Time!
njdevil
So... those "time to complete" numbers? Those are "days", right?
No? Oh... nevermind.
four12
@boricuachick:
No. Women have a different chart. Also, women do bar-hangs instead of pull-ups. You basically do one pull-up, but you keep yourself in the up position. And hold on for as long as you can. Your time is up when your arms straighten out and you are fully extended.
Is the same chart used for men and women?
I can run about 10 min. miles and I can probably a good amount of crunches but I could never ever do one pull up LOL.
boricuachick
Three miles in 18 minutes?
Heh, I can do it in about 2-3 hours. :D
That is the Physical Fitness Test...now we also have a Combat Fitness Test too...
amw1972
I can happily get a first class rating if those charts are correct. Guess all those years of wrestling paid off (and my 4 day a week lifting/running program that I still do).
Marines made some of the tougher practices that we had in high school, coach would let the kids who had graduated and were in the military run a conditioning session on Christmas Eve...at 6 am. Always fun.
Bernie Wallace
@AsWater:
You can do either palms in or out. You can even switch things up part way through if you're so inclined (as long as you stay on the bar).
CannibalCrowley
Those are dead hang pull ups, no kipping ladies.
CannibalCrowley
I always feel sorry that these guys get in such good shape only to drive around in Humvees and get killed by some moron with a hacked garage door-opener.
orlo
@TeresaRaven: OH great, maybe you can answer me something.
The pull ups. Which ones are you supposed to do? The over hand (back muscle) or under hand (biceps) version? It really is optional as AoM says it is do you know why the Marines would allow it? Don't you think that would screw with the classes?
I almost made it into the marine corps, but alas I flunked out. I passed all the tests but one, so I couldn't get in.
wahoo-yahoo
Hey, I just got out of the Marines myself, and always thought that the fitness test is a great way to gauge your fitness. But do not think that if you fall into the 3rd or 2nd class that your fit in any way. The units I have served in have ALWAYS considered anything below a first class to be substandard.
TeresaRaven
Well yeah, that's all fine and dandy, but how many words can they type in a minute?
By the Marine Corps standards I'm a corpse that hasn't fallen over yet.
Subatandard for Marine Corps duty, maybe. Substandard for regular humans? Don't think so.
Ooh, I bet I could actually manage this. Twenty pull-ups is easy, and 100 crunches within two minutes is manageable. I can run a mile in around seven minutes, so that last bit would require a good portion of effort on my part. In any event, this is a really neat post! :D
Also, I can do 104 words per minute. :flaunts:
I can remember taking these test in military college, if you don't make 1st class that's just not acceptable, your job depends on your physical fitness. Running 3- 6min miles is the toughest test by far. I can remember once watching a upper class Marine do 64 Chin-ups(not the easier pulls -ups), he would hang from one arm and let the other rest, then keep going. Ridiculous.
sleepy-man
@TeresaRaven:
So I'm 26 and I would have to earn 226 points judging by the second part to be considered Marine fit?
I've been doing kickboxing at least twice a week for 3 years now and am probably in the best shape of my life but I know I suck at pullups (upper body strength is best its ever been but dead-man pullups are HARD!!)
Crunches will be easy for me. Despite the gut I can't get rid of I have good core strength.
The running will be the worst. I never run. I should but I don't.
I'll try saturday maybe and see what I get.
grecords