The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a rigorous physical evaluation that measures the physical fitness of soldiers in the United States Army. One of the six events in the ACFT is the Leg Tuck, which tests the upper body and core strength of soldiers. In this article, we'll go over what the Leg Tuck is, how it's scored, and tips for training and improving your performance on this event.
The Leg Tuck is a bodyweight exercise that requires you to hang from a pull-up bar and raise your legs up to your chest. The movement requires a combination of upper body, core, and grip strength. Soldiers are given two minutes to complete as many reps as possible. Each rep is counted when the soldier's thighs are parallel or above the horizontal plane of the pull-up bar and the soldier's knees are at or above their hips.
The ACFT Leg Tuck is scored based on the number of repetitions completed in the allotted two minutes. A score of zero is given if the soldier is unable to complete any reps. The higher the number of reps, the higher the score, and the better the soldier's performance.
To prepare for the Leg Tuck, it's important to focus on building upper body, core, and grip strength. Pull-ups and chin-ups are great exercises for building upper body strength. Core exercises such as planks and leg raises will also help to build the core strength necessary to perform the Leg Tuck. Additionally, grip strength exercises such as farmers carries and dead hangs will help you to maintain grip on the pull-up bar during the Leg Tuck event.
Another important aspect of training for the Leg Tuck is to practice the movement itself. This can be done by using a leg tuck machine or by hanging from a pull-up bar and performing the movement with a resistance band. It's also helpful to practice the movement with a partner who can spot you and provide feedback on your technique.
Finally, it's important to practice pacing during training. Since soldiers have only two minutes to complete as many reps as possible, it's important to practice performing the Leg Tuck at a steady pace rather than going all out in the beginning and then fatiguing quickly.
In conclusion, the Leg Tuck is a challenging but important part of the Army Combat Fitness Test. By building upper body, core, and grip strength and practicing the movement itself, you can improve your performance on this event and increase your overall score on the ACFT.