Coaching focus
Build a strong hinge and practice moving a load from the floor with control.
Useful practice
- Hinge patterning
- Submaximal deadlift sets
- Loaded carries
OPAT / Training / SDL
Strength Deadlift training
Prepare for Strength Deadlift as one part of the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT).
Official Army guidance
Use the current event protocol and local test-control instructions for administration. The reference below describes the event; it is not a substitute for the official directive.
What it tests
Strength through the lower body and posterior chain while moving the prescribed load.
Test setup
Begin with the unloaded or less-than-40-pound check lifts, then select a record load between 120 and 220 pounds with the administrator.
How it is performed
Complete two check lifts, then perform three repetitions at each selected record load using controlled deadlift technique.
What counts
The heaviest load completed for three valid repetitions is recorded. Record loads change in 10-pound increments.
Result recorded
Record the completed load in pounds.
Attempts / termination
The first record load is selected between 120 and 220 pounds. You may have up to two record attempts with no more than one minute of rest between them. After the first attempt, the load may move higher or lower; a grader-stopped attempt may be retried at the same or a lower load, while a successful first attempt may be followed by a heavier second attempt.
SourcesATP 7-22.01 · Holistic Health and Fitness Testing · effective March 12, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026
Official guidance is controlling; ArmyFitHub training suggestions are editorial preparation guidance.
ArmyFitHub Training Guidance
Use these practice ideas to build repeatable movement quality. They do not change the Army test standard.
Progression
Progress load only when the start position and finish remain consistent.
Practice setup
- Prescribed OPAT equipment and marked test surface
- Training load appropriate to current readiness