The Relationship Between Functional Motor Competence And Acft Performance In Rotc Cadets

Decreases in physical activity in youths, and possibly motor skills, may be threatening physical military readiness (PMR) in the Army. PMR is measured by the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) which includes six events; maximum deadlift (MDL), standing power throw (SPT), hand release pushups (HRP), sprint drag carry (SPD), plank (PLNK), and a 2-mile run (2MI). Functional motor competence (FMC) is developed through diverse physical activity and may be an under studied factor impacting PMR. Currently, there is limited evidence connecting FMC to ACFT performance in ROTC cadets. PURPOSE: 1) To identify the relationships among the individual events of the ACFT and FMC composite score and 2) to determine the relationship between ACFT total score and FMC composite score. METHODS: 70 healthy cadets (M = 49; F = 21; age = 20.20 ± 1.57 yrs; height = 1.74 ± .09 m mass = 77.67 ± 14.32 kg) participated in the study. Cadets completed demographic questionnaires and an FMC test battery including four tasks (long jump, ball throw, ball kick, and vertical jump). The best attempts for each task were standardized and summed to calculate FMC composite score. The ACFT was completed using the standard Army protocol. Linear regressions were used to assess the relationship between FMC and ACFT performance, controlling for sex and military science (MS) year. Alpha <0.05. RESULTS: MS year and sex explained <10% of the variance in ACFT total score and the ACFT events. FMC composite score was a significant predictor in all the models and had significant positive relationships with all ACFT scores except HRP score. (Table 1) CONCLUSION: Cadets with higher FMC performed better on the ACFT, especially with the SDC event. FMC could serve as an early screening tool for a cadet, offering insights into potential ACFT performance. Future research should continue to investigate the relationship between FMC and PMR to help inform screening and intervention protocols for ROTC cadets, to ultimately improve PMR.