Soldier Athlete Fitness Assessment (SAFT) Training Plan

Soldier Athlete Fitness Assessment (SAFT) Training Plan

$39.00

  • 6-week, 5 day/week limited equipment training plan to prepare athletes for the Soldier Athlete Fitness Test (SAFT)
  • Trains tactical work capacity, ruck run endurance, and bodyweight pushing and pulling strength
  • This training plan is one of the 450+ plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription

Description

This intense, 6 week, 5 day/week training plan is specifically designed to prepare athletes for the Soldier Athlete Fitness Test (SAFT), MTI’s proposed replacement for the Army’s APFT/ACFT, and the USMC PFT/CFT.  The plan includes a 1-week taper, and is designed to be completed the 6 weeks directly prior to your unit’s SAFT or as a general military fitness plan. 

This is Version 1 of the plan, built January 2021

This plan is purpose-built to prepare you for the specific fitness demands of the SAFT:

  • Bodyweight Pushing and Pulling Strength (Arms Extended Hand Release Push Ups & Pull Ups)
  • Tactical Athlete Work Capacity – Loaded linear, lateral, and change of direction movement (weight vest or backpack)
  • Ruck Run Assessment and Progressions
  • Focused Chassis Integrity grinds

 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Weeks 1, 4 and 7 in the plan are SAFT Assessment weeks. Below is the Training Schedule

  • Monday:  Tactical Work Capacity + Bodyweight Strength
  • Tuesday:  Ruck Run Intervals
  • Wednesday:  Bodyweight Strength
  • Thursday:  Tactical Work Capacity + Chassis Integrity
  • Friday: Ruck Run Intervals

 

SAFT EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

Upper Body Pull Strength Max Reps Bodyweight Pull Ups in 2 Minutes

Strict Pull Ups – no kipping – full elbow lockout to chin above pull up bar. No time limit. Athlete can “rest” in the down position – hanging from the pull up bar. Both hands must remain on the bar at all times.

**Note – Pull Ups are completed with the palms pointed away from the face. No kipping, bucking, swinging or other excess movement allowed.
Upper Body Press Strength Max Rep Arms Extended Hand Release Push Ups in 2 Minutes

Hands up to elbows locked out. Body must come up stiff (no midsection sag) – Athlete can “rest” in the down position (laying on the ground)

** Note: The head, chest, butt and calves must raise together for each rep. The body must remain as stiff as a board – no sagging or bending at all allowed at the waist. Some athletes will raise only or mostly their upper bodies. This is not allowed and the rep won’t count. Be strict!
Mission-Direct Work Capacity MTI Tactical Athlete Work Capacity Fitness Assessment 
Mission-Direct Endurance 3-Mile Ruck Run for Time at 45# Ruck.

Many schools and selections (Ranger, Airborne, SFAS, Expert Infantryman Badge, etc.) use a 10 or 12 mile ruck as part of their initial “gate” assessment or another scored event. For this reason I’ve always wondered why a ruck event was not part of the APFT. The 3-Mile event here will address this. Three miles is shorter than the commonly assessed 10 or 12 miles, and is long enough to separate performances.

**Note: Ruck weight must be at least 45#, but no more than 50#. Make athletes prepare their rucks the day before  the event. Verify ruck weights just before the ruck run and adjust as necessary.

 

SCORING

50 Points Total (see chart below)

General Score    Total Points
Poor                     0-10
Good                    11-25
Excellent              26-40

Points Pull Up Reps Hand Release Push Up Reps Work Capacity Assessment Reps 3-Mile Ruck Finish Time
1 0-3 23-25 46 45:00 +
2 4-5 26-28 47 43:00-44:59
3 6-7 29-31 48 41:00-42:59
4 8-9 32-34 49 39:00-40:59
5 10-11 35-37 50 37:00-38:59
6 12-13 38-40 51 35:00-36:59
7 14-15 41-43 52 33:00-34:59
8 16-17 44-46 53 31:00-32:59
9 18-19 47-49 54 29:00-30:59
10 20 50 55 <27:00-28:59

 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

This is a limited equipment training plan. Below is the required equipment.

  • 45# Ruck
  • Pull Up Bar
  • Issued Body Armor

 

COMMON QUESTIONS

What if I have less than 7 weeks before my unit’s SAFT assessment?
Still start at the beginning of this training plan anyway. Don’t skip ahead.

What if I have more than 7 weeks?
Email coach@mtntactical.com with the time you have and we will advise.

What if I can’t handle the training volume at first?
Building stamina and resilience is a key training goal of this plan, and physical and mental stamina is also key to completing the Academy. If you can’t handle the training volume at first, it’s better to cut training sessions short, rather than take unscheduled rest days.

What if I can’t make the prescribed reps for the bodyweight exercises, or the prescribed interval times for rucks or Tactical Athlete Work Capacity?
Do your best, and be sure to do the total number of rounds, even if you can’t make the reps or the time. Don’t quit.

How do you count reps for Sandbag Getups, and Step ups?
Sandbag Getups – The prescribed rep count is total reps, so 50x Sandbag Getups at 60# sandbag = 50x total reps, 25x each shoulder.

How do you count reps for lunges?
5x Lunges = 5x Lunges each leg, or 10x lunges total

What if I miss a day?
Begin where you left off when you return to training. This program is progressed – each session builds upon the prior session – so don’t skip a session or skip around. Follow the training sessions in order, regardless.

Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run/Ruck Calculator is listed as an exercise.

What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.

Can I see sample training? 
Yes. Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming.

How do I access the plan?
Access is online, via username and password. You can log in either through our website or through our app (Mtn Tactical Fitness) available for IOS and Android.

Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.

More Questions? Email: coach@mtntactical.com

 

DISCLAIMER
Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. Physical training contains inherent risks including, but not limited to, muscle strains, tears, physical and bodily injury up to and including death. This training program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. If you are unable to assume these risks then you should not engage in this training program. No liability is assumed by Mountain Tactical Institute, Inc, its owners or employees, and you train at your own risk. Mountain Tactical Institute makes no warranty, express or implied, of any kind in connection with this training program.

Required Equipment

This is a limited equipment training plan. Below is the required equipment.

  • 45# Ruck

  • Pull Up Bar

  • Issued Body Armor

Sample Training

Below is the First Week from this Training Plan:

MONDAY
SESSION 1
Obj: Soldier Athlete Fitness Test (SAFT) #1

Warm-up:

3 Rounds
5x Push-ups
5x Walking Lunges
1x Pull-ups
4x 25m Shuttle
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

Training:

(1) Max reps Pull-ups.

** Rest 3 Minutes

(2) Extended Arms Hand Release Push-ups in 60 sec.

** Rest 3 Minutes

(3) Tactical Work Capacity Assessment

** Rest 3 Minutes

(4) 3-Mile Ruck Run for Time @ 45#

RECORD RESULTS

******************************

 

TUESDAY
SESSION 2
Obj: Bodyweight Strength

Warm-up:

3 Rounds
5x Push-ups
1x Pull-ups
8x Sit-ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

Training:

(1) 6 Rounds, Every 90 Seconds
30% Max Rep Pull-ups from SESSION 1's SAFT #1

(2) 6 Rounds, Every 90 Seconds
30% Max Rep Extended Arms Hand Release Push-ups from SESSION 1’s SAFT #1

How to find your assigned reps for Pull Ups and Extended Arms Hand Release Push Ups….

Total Reps from SAFT #1 x .30

Example: If your total reps was 12x Pull Ups, use the following equation….

12 x .3 = 3.6 (Round up to 4)

Do 4x Pull Ups every 90 seconds. Use whatever time is remaining in the 90 seconds as your rest. Use the same equation for the Push Ups. 

(3) Foam Roll Legs/Low Back

******************************

 

WEDNESDAY
SESSION 3
Obj: Tactical Work Capacity

Warm Up:

3 Rounds
5x Walking Lunges
5x Burpees
10x Sit-ups
4x 40-Foot Shuttles
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

Training:

(1) 3 Rounds every 5 minutes
25m Shuttle Sprints Interval Pace @ 25# weight vest, IBA, or Ruck

How to find your Interval Pace…

Total Reps from Tactical Work Capacity Assessment / 3 x 1.2

Example: If your total reps was 55, use the following equation…

(55 / 3) x 1.2 = 22

Do 22x 25m shuttles (each 25m length = 1) every 5 minutes. Use whatever time is remaining in the 5 minutes as your rest. 

(2) 15 Minute Grind
5x Backwards Sandbag Drag @ 45# Ruck
3x Sandbag Half Moon @ 45# Ruck
5x Sandbag Getup @ 45# Ruck

(3) 2 Rounds
Pigeon Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
Foam Roll Low Back

******************************

 

THURSDAY
SESSION 4
Obj: Bodyweight Strength

Warm-up:

3 Rounds
5x Push-ups
1x Pull-ups
8x Sit-ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

Training:

(1) 6 Rounds, Every 90 Seconds
30% Max Rep Pull-ups from SESSION 1's SAFT #1

(2) 6 Rounds, Every 90 Seconds
30% Max Rep Extended Arms Hand Release Push-ups from SESSION 1’s SAFT #1

How to find your assigned reps for Pull Ups and Extended Arms Hand Release Push Ups….

Total Reps from SAFT #1 x .30

Example: If your total reps was 12x Pull Ups, use the following equation….

12 x .3 = 3.6 (Round up to 4)

Do 4x Pull Ups every 90 seconds. Use whatever time is remaining in the 90 seconds as your rest. Use the same equation for the Push Ups. 

******************************

 

FRIDAY
SESSION 5
Obj: Ruck Endurance

Warm-up:

3 Rounds
4/8x Push-ups
4x Walking Lunges
8x Sit-ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

Training:

(1) 3 Rounds
1 Mile Ruck Run @ 45# Ruck using your assessment time from SESSION 1’s SAFT #1 and the MTI Ruck Calculator

Rest 3-5 Minutes

-> MTI Ruck Calculator

(2) Foam Roll Legs/Low Back

1)  Mission Direct

Gym numbers mean nothing. All that matters is mission performance. 

To this end, MTI’s fitness solutions and programming are not boxed in by convention, tradition, orthodoxy, public opinion or any other artificial constraint driven by inside or outside forces.

We begin with the raw fitness demands of the mission and build a fitness solution which directly prepares the athlete for those demands.

 

2) Fitness Solutions Built from the Ground Up

MTI’s programming is not “re-tread” bodybuilding, football, CrossFit, kettlebell, strength or general fitness programming. We’ve built our fitness programming for mountain and tactical athletes from the ground up.

The Fluid Periodization methodology we deploy to concurrently train multiple fitness attributes is completely original and has continued to evolve and improve over the years.

Our mid-section training methodology, Chassis Integrity, is also original, as is our endurance programming, 7 strength training progressions, tactical agility, and work capacity programming.

Our mountain sports pre-season training plans, tactical PFT, selection, school, course, and fitness improvement training plans across military, LE and Fire Rescue are MTI-developed, tested and athlete-proven.

Over the years hundreds of athletes and coaches have taken our advanced programming and unit fitness leader programming courses and MTI is widely recognized within the mountain and tactical professions and fitness media as a thought leader in fitness programming for military and tactical athletes.

 

3) The MTI Method

→ Research: MTI begins program design with extensive research of the fitness demands of the mission, sport or event, identifies the exercises and progressions which sport-specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the training plan.

→ Deploy & Assess: We deploy the training plan “Lab Rats” at our Wyoming facility. Training session and cycle issues are identified and fixed as we work through the training plan. Post cycle we assess the programming’s effectiveness and efficiency. We keep the stuff that works, and fix or toss the stuff that doesn’t.

→ Publish & Assess Again: Plan is published for purchase as an individual training plan and made available to our subscribers. Feedback/results are assessed.

→ Iterate: We take what we learn from lab rats and athletes, re-visit, update and improve already published training plans. Several of our individual training plans are on their 4th or 5th version.

 

4) Mission-Direct Research

MTI exists to “Improve Mountain and Tactical Athletes mission performance and keep them safe.” To that end, we have developed a unique research methodology aimed at identifying real world areas of improvement and identifying immediately deployable mission-direct solutions. Click HERE to learn more about MTI’s Mission-Direct Research methodology, and Here to read about just few of our research efforts.

5) Field Proven

Our stuff works. Weekly we receive unsolicited reviews of our programming and testimonials to its effectiveness.

 

6) Programming Breadth

MTI’s library of 200+ sport-specific fitness plans for mountain and tactical athletes is unmatched. Resources range from specific programming for tactical special forces selections, to specific plans for climbing Rainier and Denali, to general fitness solutions such as running improvement, to post-rehab from injury.

Over the past decade, MTI has partnered with hundreds of athletes throughout their individual mountain and tactical careers, and provided fitness solutions as they face new mountain objectives, tactical schools, selections, PFTs and deployments, and came back from injury.

 

7) Worldwide Influence

Our work is not limited to US Athletes.

We’ve developed selection-specific training plans for Canadian, UK, Australian and German Special Forces Selections and worked with individual military personnel from Scandinavia, South, and Central America.

Canadian, Australian, UK and western European law enforcement and fire/rescue athletes have used MTI programming for mission-direct fitness.

On the mountain side, Alpinists from Japan to Slovakia have consulted with MTI and used MTI’s programming to prepare for mountain objectives.

 

8) Mission Performance beyond Fitness

MTI’s exists is to improve Mission Performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe. 

This focus on “mission direct” solutions, enhancements and improvements drives our work and research and extends beyond fitness solutions to include training, leadership, gear, team culture, and safety. 

Fitness is just one area of our work.

Our non-fitness research has included tactical cultures, combat uniforms, and gore-tex performance, and effect of stress on marksmanship.

Our work on defining what it means to be a Quiet Professional has had penetrating influence and driven healthy conversations with both mountain and tactical professionals.

 

9) Direct, Honest, Clear Answers

Since 2007 we’ve taken and answered dozens of questions weekly from mountain and tactical athletes. We’ve saved these individual Q&A’s and now thousands are archived on our site.

We’re not salesmen, and our answers are noted for their directness, honesty, and clarity. Our stuff isn’t for everyone. If we can help, we’ll let you know. If we can’t, we’ll let you know that, too.

– Rob Shaul, Founder

 

All of the Above is Backed Up By Our Promise: Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

By Rob Shaul

I received notes frequently from athletes hesitant to purchase a subscription or training plans asking me to sell them on why they should make the purchase.

While I understand the question, I’m not a salesman – so I can’t put a hard sale on anyone for our programming.

I can tell them the process we go through to design our programming.

We begin with extensive research on the fitness demands of the event, identify the exercises and progressions which sport specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the plan.

Then we test the cycle on ourselves and our lab rats here in Wyoming. We document, note what works and doesn’t work, re-assess, and make changes and modifications.

Then we publish the programming in the form of one of our plans or as part of our subscription daily training sessions for tactical and mountain athletes.
We don’t stop there – our daily programming is the “tip of the spear” for our programming evolution. We use these sessions to learn and make continuous improvement.

As we learn more and improve, we go back, and update the sport-specific training plans on the website. For example, we’re currently on Version 5 of our Ruck Based Selection Training Plan and Version 3 of our Dryland Ski Training Plan and Version 4 of our Big Game Back Country Hunting Training Plan.

We understand our programing isn’t cheap, but we believe it’s a great value. The $79 for the Ruck Based Selection Training Plan, and $39 for the Dryland Ski Training Plan reflect the, research, work, innovative theory, iteration, testing and feedback we’ve put in and received to make these plans effective.

All that matters for us is outside performance, and we feel strongly that Our Stuff Works in the real world.

Here’s our guarantee:

1) Individual Training Plan Purchase:
If you purchase an individual training plan, follow it as prescribed before your season/event/pft/selection, and if you don’t feel you were physically ready for your season/event/pft/selection, and/or didn’t see dramatic improvements in your early season performance, we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

2) Athlete’s Subscription
If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

Questions?
Email: rob@mtntactical.com

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Do you have any reviews or testimonials from athletes who have used your Athlete’s Subscription
Yes. Click HERE.

Is it true you guarantee your stuff works?
Yes. If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

How is MTI programming different than CrossFit?
This is a common question. Read our answer HERE.

You have a lot of competitors. Why should I choose MTI?
MTI is driven to improve mountain and tactical athletes’ mission performance and keep them safe. This emphasis and focus on mission performance sets us apart. Read about more that sets us apart HERE.

If I purchase a plan or subscription, how do I access the programming?
All of our plans are online, accessible via username and password.
You can log in through our →Website  or Mobile App →IOS and Android.

Do you have downloadable .pdf’s of the training plans?
No. But you can print the programming, by week, from your browser. You access individual training plans online via a username and password.

Do you have a mobile app?
Yes, we do. Available for IOS and Android.

What is the difference between purchasing an individual training plan, packet of plans or an Athlete’s Subscription?

  • Plan – Like purchasing the DVD of the first Star Wars movie. You own it forever, including any updates we make to the plan.
  • Packet – Like purchasing the DVD’s of all the Star Wars movies. You own them forever, including any updates we make to the plans.
  • Athlete’s Subscription – Like subscribing to Netflix. You get access to all 200+ plan in our library, but lose access if you unsubscribe.

If I purchase an Athletes Subscription Can I cancel on my own, anytime?
Yes.

Do I have to contact MTI to cancel or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself. Instructions HERE.

If I purchase a subscription and have questions about where to start or what plans(s) to use for my goals, will you help?
Yes. We answer dozens of training questions from athletes weekly. Email coach@mtntactical.com.

If you add new plans or update existing plans after I subscribe will I have access to them?
Yes. We are continuously adding training plans and packets (2-5/month) and updating plans. With your subscription you’ll have access to all new plans, new courses and plan updates.

What Equipment is Required?
Click the “Required Equipment” tab to find out what equipment is required for the specific plan you are interested in.

Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run and Ruck Calculators are listed as exercises.

What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.

Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.

What if I have more questions?
Email rob@mtntactical.com

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