Monday, Aug. 25, 2014
What is it?
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Master Fitness Trainer Course (MFTC) trains selected non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers in all aspects of the Army’s physical readiness training system. This training allows selected Soldiers to advise units on physical readiness issues and monitor unit and individual physical readiness programs. The instruction includes exercise science, training principles, prescription, leadership, physical fitness assessment and unit physical readiness programs aligned with current Army doctrine and regulations. An additional skill identifier of 6P for officers and P5 for NCOs will be awarded upon successful course completion.
The MFTC mission is to meet the Army Chief of Staff’s intent to provide certified master fitness trainers and advisers to commanders from division down to company level.
Why is this important to the Army?
MFTC is an academic course with college-level content that focuses on the concepts of physical fitness and readiness to propel the Army to a more agile and ready force. The program provides balanced training geared to increase Soldier physical readiness, decrease accession losses, reduce injury rates, standardize unit training in accordance with Army training doctrine and provide easier integration of new Soldiers into operational units.
What has the Army done?
The Center for Initial Military Training is changing how Soldiers take the MFTC course. Instead of a four-week mobile training team, the course is now a two-phased learning experience. Phase 1 is a self-paced distance learning course that must be completed prior to the Phase 2, two-week resident course. The course is open to active and reserve Soldiers, sergeant through captain, who are recommended by their battalion commanders or equivalent and can score a 240, with a minimum of 80 points in each event, on the Army Physical Fitness Test. Soldiers 40 years and older can attend, but must pass a medical screening prior to attendance and participate in a physical readiness training program for at least 90 days prior to course start date.
What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future?
Active-duty Soldiers will attend the resident course at the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Reserve Soldiers will attend the resident course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. National Guard Soldiers will attend the resident course at either Yakima, Washington, Camp Mabry, Texas, or at a site taught by the Army National Guard Warrior Training Center, Fort Benning, Georgia. Those selected by their command to attend will need to meet with their training officer or NCO to reserve a course allocation.
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