Acft Performance, Maximal Aerobic Capacity, Eating Habits, And Body Composition Between Active-duty Personnel And Rotc Cadets

PURPOSE: The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) assesses the physical and combat readiness of U.S. Army personnel, evolving with insights into the physical demands of ground combat. While many studies focus on Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, it is important to understand how these findings apply to active-duty soldiers. This study compares the ACFT performance of active-duty personnel to ROTC cadets, aiming to determine if body composition, VO2 max, and eating habits (HEI-2020) can predict ACFT performance in active-duty soldiers. METHODS: This retrospective analysis compared 42 male active-duty soldiers to 53 male ROTC cadets. Demographics, anthropometrics, body composition, HEI-2020, VO2 max, and ACFT scores were recorded during their semi-annual fitness testing. An independent-sample t-test was conducted to identify differences in HEI-2020, VO2 max, body composition, anthropometric measurements, and ACFT scores between ROTC cadets and active-duty participants. Multiple linear regression was used to predict ACFT performance in active-duty soldiers. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in total ACFT scores between active-duty personnel and ROTC cadets. Active-duty soldiers were older by an average of 3.6 ± 0.98 years (P < .001), had a higher BMI of 1.49 ± 0.78 (P = .041), and had 4.39 ± 1.9 kg more lean body mass (LBM) than ROTC cadets. Among active-duty soldiers, LBM explained 25% of the variability in total ACFT scores (F(1,31) = 10.5, P = .003). While ROTC cadets generally had healthier diets, these differences did not significantly impact ACFT performance. When analyzing combined data, 48% of the variability in total ACFT scores was explained (F(4,89) = 19.3, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights key physical and nutritional differences between active-duty soldiers and ROTC cadets. Despite differences in age, BMI, and LBM, both groups had similar ACFT scores. The findings suggest that while ROTC cadets benefit from structured training, active-duty soldiers' longer training periods may enhance VO2 max. Notably, LBM was a significant predictor of ACFT performance, emphasizing its importance over body fat percentage. Future research should explore these areas further to optimize military fitness and performance.