Army’s new PT test for the boots: 

The Occupational Physical Assessment Test, a new way to measure physical aptitude of recruits, is tentatively scheduled for a June roll-out. If you have 30 minutes to burn, you can watch the Army’s official OPAT instructional video here. In the meantime, here’s what we know about the four physical events:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doywVP-eQYw

The regular Army PT test will still remain in place. That’s the two-mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups. Nothing changes there. This new test, which SOFREP’s Desiree Huitt talked about in February, is intended to see how well recruits qualify for the MOS that they are supposed to go into. In other words, if you are planning on being and infantryman infantry person or Special Forces, and you have little girl arms, you will gently be steered into another direction. According to the article, it’s not all the hooah jobs that require a good score, either. They use the example of a mechanic who might have to change out one of the heavy-ass tires on an MRAP.

I haven’t been able to find out what the grading standards are. Apparently this is some big secret, so train on these exercises as much as you can.

Standing long jump
Why: Measures lower-body power – muscles used in repetitive lifting and carrying tasks such as offloading supplies or ammunition.
How: “At least two submaximal practice jumps,” according to the Army’s instructional video, followed by “three successful jumps,” with the results of each recorded to the nearest centimeter.

As with all body-weight exercises, there’s no secret to how to improve on these. If you happen to have the hops of a drunken elephant, just jump a lot. Box jump and broad jump your ass off, and soon you’ll be like Lebron. Speaking of him, also be sure to play a lot of basketball. Whenever I consistently played ball, I’d be grabbing the rim all day. But when I didn’t play for a while, my jumping ability deserted me. Oh, and deep squats, which you should be doing anyway, will help.

Seated power throw
Why: Measures upper-body power – muscles used in repetitive, but generally stationary tasks such as loading ammunition.
How: Recruits sit on the floor with their lower back against a 9-inch-long, 6-inch-wide, 3-inch-deep yoga block and their upper back against the wall, legs out straight. On “go” from the test-giver, they hold a 4.4-pound medicine ball to their chest, pause, then “push/throw … upwards and outwards at a 45 degree angle,” per the Army instructional video. Two practice throws followed by three that count, with all scores recorded to the nearest quarter-meter.