United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Marine Corps requires that all Marines perform a Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, every 6 months. The PFT ensures that the Marines are keeping themselves physically fit and in a state of physical readiness. It consists of Pull-Ups, crunches, and a 3-mile run for males and flexed arm hang, crunches and a 3-mile run for females. The US Army has a PFT, the US Navy a Physical Readiness Test or PRT.
Maximums and Minimums
The minimum a male Marine must complete are 3 pull-ups, 50 crunches, and a 28 minute 3-mile run. The minimum a female Marine must complete are 15 seconds on a flexed arm hang, 50 crunches and a 31 minute 3-mile run.
To earn a perfect PFT score for males, he must do 20 pull-ups, 100 crunches in less than two minutes, and complete the 3 mile run in 18 minutes or less. This will earn the Marine a 300 point PFT. For females a perfect score is 70 seconds on the flexed arm hang, 100 crunches, and a 21 minute 3 mile run. Like the males, this will earn the female Marines a 300 PFT score. Marines who score above a 285, are often referred to as PT studs, or are given the nickname Iron Mike.
Scoring
Marine Corps PFTs are scored the following way for males: 5 points for every pull-up, 1 point for every crunch, and 1 point is deducted from a hundred for every 10 seconds slower than 18 minutes. For females, 2 points are given for every 1 second completed on the flex arm hang. For females one point is deducted from a hundred for every 10 seconds slower than 21 minutes. Crunches are scored the same way as males. A male or female Marine must score a total of 135 points between the three events to pass the PFT.
Form
Pull-ups are done from a dead hang, arms fully extended and locked, body motionless, feet off the deck, or floor. The Marine executes a pull-up without excessive body motion, or kipping, and goes until their chin has cleared the top of the bar. Then the Marine lowers his body until his arms are fully extended or locked out. The pull-up is counted when the Marine's arms are locked out. The exercise is repeated until the Marine has reached 20 pull-ups or can no longer complete a pull-up. Then the Marine lower his body to a dead hang with his arms fully extended. Only then is the Marine allowed to drop from the bar, or the last pull-up will not count. Grip changes are allowed during the exercises, as long as the Marines feet do not touch the bars or ground, and his hands do not touch the side bars of the pull-up bar.
Flexed Arm Hang
The Flexed hang is started with the Marine's chin above the pull-up bar. The timer is started and does no stop until the Marine's arms make an angle of greater than 90 degrees, or a right angle. Once again, the feet may not touch the deck, or floor.
Crunches are executed with the Marine's feet flat on the deck, knees bent, arms on the abdomen, and hands underneath the biceps. One crunch is completed when the Marine lifts his or her abdomen till the Marine's elbows touch his or her thighs, and then lowers his upper body until his or her shoulder blades touch the deck. The Marine is given 2 minutes to complete the exercises, and someone may hold the Marines legs and feet in place.
3-Mile Run
The Marine must complete the run.
| Minimums and Age Adjustment - Male and Female | |||||
| Age | Pull-Ups | Flexed Arm Hang | Crunches | 3-Mile Run Male | 3-Mile Run Female |
| 17-26 | 3 | 15 Seconds | 50 | 28:00 | 31:00 |
| 27-39 | 3 | 15 Seconds | 45 | 29:00 | 32:00 |
| 40-45 | 3 | 15 Seconds | 45 | 30:00 | 33:00 |
| 46+ | 3 | 15 Seconds | 40 | 33:00 | 36:00 |
| Marine Corps PFT Classification Scores - Male and Female | ||||
| Class | Age 17-26 | Age 27-39 | Age 40-45 | Age 46+ |
| 1st | 225 | 200 | 175 | 150 |
| 2nd | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 |
| 3rd | 135 | 110 | 88 | 65 |
Marine Corps Order (MCO) P6100-12
