Posted by Soldier Grrrl from Canada on April 16, 2021 at 21:12:12:
In Reply to: Re: You can't teach an old dog new tricks posted by Andyboy on April 16, 2021 at 02:35:42:
The Army fitness standard, or BFT is the same for the Regular and Reserve components, and has always been so. Initially the 2X10 and then changed to the 13Km march. (These tests have always been applied with the same standards for female and male soldiers).
In 1993/94 Land Forces Central Area (not the army as a whole)decided to evaluate individual and collective combat skill annualy. The individual skills evaluation became commonly known as the "Warrior" testing. This included a 3.2 Km march which had to be completed within certain time limits in order to achieve gold, silver or bronze performance. (And there was no difference in time limits for males and females). After 2 years use in LFCA it was decided to nationalize the program for the whole Army (LFC). At this time the standard fitness test for the Army(the 13Km march)was used rather than the 3.2Km march, which was never an approved "standard".
A couple of years later, some bookworm discovered that the LFC BFT consists not just of a 13 Km march, but a 6 week work up program. The reserves, due to the nature of service, cannot complete a 6 week work up program unless they are on Class B or C service. Therefore, the Army could not demand that Class A reservists do the 13Km march (even though most would voluntarily do it) in case someone got injured, and could then claim (correctly) that they were not properly trained.
I hope that helps you understand a bit more about recent fitness standards and changes in the Army.
S.G.