According to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the Army has been directed to implement “higher minimum standards” for some troops in combat jobs. The NDAA also removes efforts to reinstate the previous Army Physical Fitness Test as the test of record, which had been added over the summer to the draft version of the NDAA.
The NDAA gives the Army up to 18 months to enact the Army Combat Fitness Test changes, which President Joe Biden is expected to sign. The bill sets Congress’ annual policy and spending priorities for the Pentagon. The required changes by the NDAA will affect soldiers in the infantry, combat engineering, armor and cavalry, artillery forward observers, artillery and engineer offices, and all Special Forces.
Finalizing Army Fitness Changes
Lt. Col. Randy Ready, spokesman for the Center for Initial Military Training under Army Training and Doctrine Command, told Army Times in an email Monday that new standards would not begin development until the bill became law.
Although the NDAA does not provide any specific details or requirements regarding the AFCT changes, the Army must brief Congress in one year about the progress on the changes, which focus on scoring standards.
“Not later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the secretary of the Army provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives describing the methodology used to establish standards,” the Bill states.
These changes come on the heels of the Army’s recent and final implementation of the painstakingly developed six-event CrossFit-style ACFT. The test spent years being developed and changed to connect better the requirements of the physical fitness test and physical combat requirements.
THe Move from the APFT to the ACFT
The ACFT, which was implemented (finally) in October, replaced the long-running 80’s era APFT, which tested a soldier’s combat readiness through push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run.
The APFT was thought to be outdated and Army leadership felt that the test didn’t gauge a soldier’s ability in the combat environment. The ACFT was developed and initially rolled out in 2018. The original intent was to assess the soldier based on gender-neutral and age-neutral scores, as well as the physical demands of the soldier’s job.
After developing different standards for men and women, the Army faced pressure from Congress when studies showed that less than half of women were passing the test.
The House proposed returning to gender-neutral standards, and the Senate proposed returning to the APFT. Senior Army leaders pushed against both, stating that the new test has lessened injury rates and helped improve the fitness culture.
The ACFT has “really been a critical tool for us in the entire holistic health and fitness arena to change the culture of fitness,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, the service’s top enlisted soldier said at Fort Moore, Ga., in September. “This is direct to warfighting. And, so, I look forward to taking a whole bunch of ACFTs.”
The Current ACFT standards (MOS not considered)
Max Deadlift, three repetitions (pounds): all ages requirement for male soldiers is 140lb and 120lb for female soldiers.
Standing Power Throw (meters): for ages 17-21, the requirement for male soldiers is 6m male and 3.9m for female soldiers; for ages 62 and older, the requirement for male soldiers is 4.9m for female soldiers is 3.4m.
Hand Release Pushup: the requirement for all ages, both male and female soldiers is 10 reps.
Sprint/Drag/Carry (minutes, seconds): for ages 17-21, the requirement for male soldiers is 2:28 and 3:15 for female soldiers; for ages 62 and older, the requirement for male soldiers is 3:16 and 4:48 for female soldiers.
Plank (minutes, seconds): for ages 17-21, the requirement for male and female soldiers is 1:30; for ages 62 and older, the requirement for male and female soldiers is 1:10.
Two-mile run (minutes, seconds): for ages 17-21, the requirement for male soldiers is 22:00 and 23:22 for female soldiers; for ages 62 and older, the requirement for male soldiers is 23:36 and 25:00 for female soldiers.
