THE YOMP CO. STANDARD™

The British Standard for Load-Carriage Fitness

Purpose

Most people ruck without knowing whether what they’re doing is enough, too much, or simply unclear. The YOMP Standard™ exists to remove that uncertainty.

It is a classification system for load-carriage fitness designed to answer one question clearly and honestly:

What level of load-carriage capability do you currently possess?

The standard applies to civilians, athletes, Blue Light services, and military personnel. It defines outcomes, not training methods.

What the Standard Is - and Is Not

The YOMP Standard is:

• A single, repeatable test framework

• A classification ruler, not a workout

• Bodyweight-scaled and equipment-agnostic

• Conservative, safety-biased, and durable

• Designed for long-term use and reference

The YOMP Standard is not:

• A training programme

• A challenge or competition

• A coaching method

• A product requirement

• A measure of worth, identity, or potential

Classification reflects current capacity only.

Core Principles

1. One standard
   All participants are measured against the same criteria.

2. Walking under load
   Load-carriage fitness is defined as sustained walking with external load.

3. Efficiency over suffering
   Excessive breakdown invalidates performance.

4. Elite is rare by design
   Most people should not qualify as Elite.

5. Safety overrides classification
   Stopping for safety is not failure.

Classification Levels

Participants are classified by the highest level they can successfully complete on the day of testing.

• Initiate - Can carry load safely

• Trained - Can progress load sustainably

• Operational - Can carry load with purpose under fatigue

• Advanced - Can maintain efficiency under prolonged load

• Elite - Can repeatedly demonstrate exceptional load-carriage capacity

Test Format (Universal)

All levels use the same test structure. Only the values change.

• Distance

• Load (percentage of bodyweight)

• Time cap

• Movement and safety rules

Load is calculated as a percentage of bodyweight, rounded to the nearest 0.5 kg.

Level Requirements

Initiate
5 km · 10% bodyweight · 75 minutes

Trained
8 km · 15% bodyweight · 90 minutes

Operational
12 km · 20% bodyweight · 2 hours

Advanced
20 km · 25% bodyweight · 4 hours

Elite
30 km · 30% bodyweight · 6 hours
Must be passed twice within a 12-month period.

Elite classification is valid only while repeatability is maintained.

Movement Rules

Walking (March) only

• One foot must remain in contact with the ground at all times

• No running, jogging, or shuffling

• Brief stride lengthening is permitted; flight phase is not

Load carriage

• Load must be carried entirely on the back

• No hand-carrying

• No offloading or redistribution during the test

• No external assistance

Pack use

• Any pack may be used provided the load is secure

• Excessive swing, bounce, or instability invalidates the attempt

Posture & Movement Integrity

A test attempt is invalidated if any of the following are sustained or repeated:

• Pronounced forward collapse

• Asymmetrical gait caused by load

• Limping or favouring one side

• Hands-on-knees support while moving

• Loss of control or coordination

Short-term discomfort is acceptable.
Loss of movement integrity is not.

Rest & Stopping Rules

• Standing rest is permitted

• Pace reduction is permitted

• Sitting, kneeling, or lying down fails the test

• Removing the pack fails the test

Safety override
The test must be stopped if:

• dizziness or disorientation occurs

• sharp or escalating pain develops

• numbness or neurological symptoms appear

Stopping for safety is not failure. Retesting is encouraged.

Terrain & Conditions

The core standard assumes:

• Predominantly flat to gently rolling terrain

• Firm, walkable surfaces (road, path, track)

Terrain difficulty does not alter classification.

Events or organisations may annotate terrain or conditions, but these do not redefine the standard.

Sex & Body Size Policy

The YOMP Standard uses one unified standard.

Load is scaled to bodyweight.
Outcomes may vary by individual.

The standard measures capability, not representation.

Elite classification is expected to be rare across all populations.

Elite Pace Considerations

Evidence exists that highly trained individuals and specialist military units are capable of completing comparable distances under load in times shorter than five hours. These performances are real and impressive.

However, such performances typically occur in selection or assessment contexts designed to filter candidates rather than classify sustainable capability. They often tolerate elevated injury risk, gait degradation, and one-off output.

The YOMP Standard is not a selection tool.

The Elite time standard is set at six hours to preserve walking integrity under heavy load, reward efficiency and load management, reflect modern operational planning assumptions, and support repeatability rather than one-day performance.

Faster completions are acknowledged as exceeding the standard, not redefining it.

Interpretation of Results

• Initiate reflects readiness to train safely

• Trained reflects consistent preparation

• Operational reflects functional competence

• Advanced reflects deliberate mastery

• Elite reflects exceptional, repeatable capacity

No level implies superiority outside the context of load carriage.

 

The standard is the standard. Results may vary.

The YOMP Standard™ exists to remove confusion, exaggeration, and ego from load-carriage fitness.

It defines what counts.