Anticipating the implementation of the New Army Physical Fitness test I looked at how the Army decided there was a need to revamp the current physical fitness test, in use since 1980. I compared the Army process to the five Stage Organizational Development (OD) model from Chapter two of the OD text. The Army plan encompassed three of the five OD Stages: Stage 1, Anticipate the need for change; Stage 3, The Diagnostic Process; Stage 4; Action Plans Strategies, Plans, and Techniques

Bacon (2011) reports that Soldiers can score well on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) but, are not able transfer that to survival on the battlefield. This article outlines how the army devised the new APFT and the plan to test the effectiveness of the fitness program.

Stage 1 - Anticipate the need for change. Identifying a deficiency and developing a plan for change. The Army identified that the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) is not a strong predictor of successful physical performance on the battlefield. The current APFT is a measure of upper and lower body strength, endurance and aerobic fitness. Repetitive exercises like sit-ups don't translate into survival on the battlefield. The Army believes shorter, higher-intensity tests will better assess soldiers’ ability to perform under fire. 10 years of war have proven that Soldiers are not physically prepared for the rigors on the battlefield. To start the process of change the Army had to identify the potential problem, unfit soldiers and begin working toward the solution Army total body fitness.

Stage 2 - The Diagnostic Process. We learned in the OD text that the collection of data is a key to understanding the client problems. The Army employed a 16 member panel to identify a better way to measure strength, endurance and aerobic fitness in addition to accurate measurements of anaerobic fitness consisting of total body muscular strength and endurance, agility, coordination, speed, stability, and power. In the research process the Army discovered that Soldiers’ train for the individual events in the current APFT. The panel decided to target total body fitness. This will allow the soldiers to train the way they fight. The result of the Diagnostic Process, the Army identified a lack in overall fitness. This deficiency reduced the Army’s effectiveness in battle.

Stage 4 - Action Plans Strategies, Plans, and Techniques. The focus of this stage is to resolve problems and increase the organizational effectiveness. The problem the Army needed to resolve is the lack of overall soldier fitness. The article reported the army panel devised a combat test in addition to an expanded 5 event fitness test. The tests are designed to mirror actions that happen in combat. The Army then implemented a test phase at several basic training insulations. Using new Army Recruits to test the effectiveness of the fitness program allowed the Army to assess the test without affecting the current culture of military units getting ready to deploy.
Comparing the Army process to the OD model in Chapter 2 of the text illustrates the steps to effetely identify the need for change. As the army assed the situation and developed a course of action, it was easy to see how the OD process can be applied to very complex situations. The more data you collect on a situation the easier it is to formulate a plan of action.