The U.S. Army has officially announced a major shift in its physical fitness assessment program, introducing the Army Fitness Test AFT as the new standard for evaluating the physical readiness of its soldiers. This marks the end of the Army Combat Fitness Test ACFT, which was designed to evaluate a soldiers combat capabilities but faced mixed reviews regarding its complexity and applicability to noncombat roles. The new AFT is intended to streamline the evaluation process while continuing to enhance the Armys combat readiness and overall physical fitness.
Key Features of the New Army Fitness Test
The AFT is a fiveevent test, focusing on a soldiers strength, endurance, and overall fitness, closely reflecting the physical demands they would encounter in combat situations. The test includes:
1. Threerepetition maximum deadlift: A test of lower body strength and endurance.
2. Handrelease pushup arm extension: A variation of the traditional pushup to assess upper body strength and coordination.
3. Sprintdragcarry: A test of speed, agility, and the ability to carry heavy loads.
4. Plank: A corestrength endurance test that replaces the leg tuck from the ACFT.
5. Twomile run: The standard endurance test that has been part of Army fitness assessments for decades.
The AFT has been developed based on data from the RAND Corporations extensive analysis, as well as feedback from soldiers and fitness experts. The goal is to create a more effective test that better evaluates the physical readiness necessary for soldiers to perform in realworld, combatready scenarios.
Implementation and Scoring Standards
Phased implementation of the AFT will begin in June 2025, with new scoring standards applying to soldiers in specific combatrelated military occupational specialties MOSs starting in January 2026 for activeduty soldiers, and June 2026 for the Army Reserve and National Guard.
The scoring for the AFT will be based on performance across sex and age groups, with minimum scores designed to challenge soldiers while ensuring fairness. For combat soldiers, a score of at least 60 points per event, and a minimum overall score of 350 points out of 600, will be required. For noncombat soldiers, the minimum total score is set at 300, with the same eventbased point system.
A SexNeutral and AgeNormed Approach
One of the most notable aspects of the AFT is its sexneutral and agenormed standards, which seek to create a more equitable system for evaluating all soldiers regardless of gender or age. This is a shift from the previous ACFT scoring, which was often criticized for being difficult to meet for female soldiers, particularly due to the more challenging events such as the leg tuck.
Under the new scoring system, soldiers must meet the same eventbased standards, ensuring that every soldier is held to the same rigorous physical requirements, regardless of their demographic. The approach is designed to ensure that soldiers of all backgrounds are physically capable of fulfilling their combat roles without creating undue barriers.
Building a Stronger, More Ready Force
The Armys commitment to fitness has always been tied to its overarching mission of readiness. The introduction of the AFT reflects a deepening focus on the need for soldiers to be physically prepared for the diverse and demanding situations they may face in combat. As part of the Armys ongoing modernization efforts, the AFT is seen as a crucial step toward enhancing warfighting capabilities and increasing the lethality of the force.
Army leadership has emphasized that the new fitness standards will also be paired with comprehensive support for soldiers with medical profiles, ensuring that those who are recovering from injuries or have physical limitations are still able to meet the standards with reasonable accommodations. This reflects a broader effort to ensure that physical readiness is balanced with the longterm health and wellbeing of soldiers.
Controversy and Challenges Ahead
While the AFT is receiving praise for its more practical and streamlined approach, it is not without its challenges. The transition from the ACFT to the AFT, and the implementation of the new scoring standards, will require extensive training and adaptation. Many soldiers are still adjusting to the complexities of the ACFT, and the shift to a new test may require further refinements.
Moreover, there are concerns over whether the new test will truly level the playing field for all soldiers. Some experts argue that the scoring thresholds may still be too high for some, particularly those in less physically demanding roles. However, the Armys leadership is confident that the AFT will improve overall soldier fitness, while better preparing the force for the physical demands of modern combat.
Conclusion
The Army Fitness Test represents a significant step forward in the U.S. Armys efforts to enhance physical readiness and operational effectiveness. By introducing a more standardized, equitable, and practical fitness assessment, the Army is striving to ensure that its soldiers are ready to meet the challenges of modern warfare. As implementation begins, the AFT will undoubtedly be closely watched, and its impact on Army readiness will be assessed over the coming years. The transition marks a new era in Army fitness standards, with a focus on strength, agility, and endurance that will help shape the future of U.S. military preparedness.