Last year, the U.S. Army announced it would adopt new physical training (PT) uniforms, only to reverse course just days later. Instead minor tweaks will be made include the addition of pockets to the PT uniforms that were first introduced in 2017. Those uniforms had been generally seen as an improvement over the previous PT gear, which received widespread criticism for its materials and fit.
While the PT gear won’t change, the U.S. Army announced changes to the fitness standards earlier this week. The Army Fitness Test (AFT) will be the official physical fitness test of record for all soldiers, replacing the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).
The U.S. Army is the first branch of the military to announce the change, and it follows calls from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the military should not have women in combat roles, arguing it hasn’t made it more effective or lethal. During his Senate confirmation hearings, Hegseth reaffirmed his views and in March ordered a department-wide review of existing standards set by the U.S. military branches pertaining to physical fitness.
“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force,” Hegseth said.
“Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards,” he added.
However, as reported by Task & Purpose, the Army’s fitness tests have been underway since last year, with half of the directives previously mandated by Congress. The fiscal year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) called for the service to implement an increased minimum fitness standard.
The Five Events of the AFT
The new AFT is built around five events that were designed to enhance soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force. It will become the fitness standard on June 1, 2025.
“The AFT consists of the three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up army extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run. RAND Corporation analysis and Army data from nearly 1 million test records helped inform the new standard,” the Army explained.
A standing power throw, colloquially known as the “yeet” event, has been eliminated, in part due to the risk of injury, while height and technique were shown to skew the results.
The phased implementation will also include new scoring standards for soldiers in 21 combat military occupational specialties (MOSs) taking effect on January 1, 2026, for the active component and June 1, 2026, for the Reserve and National Guard. The MOS include infantry, armor, artillery, cavalry and Special Forces among others.
Sex Neutral and Age Normed
The previous ACFT was also developed to improve solider and unit readiness, while transforming the Army’s fitness culture to reduce preventable injuries and attrition. It replaced the three-event Army Physical Fitness Test (APTF) that was first introduced back in 1980.
The new AFT combat standard was developed to sex-neutral and age-normed, and soldiers serving in combat specialties must achieve a minimum of 60 points per event and an overall minimum score of 350.
“The AFT general standard is performance-normed by sex and age groups. Soldiers serving in combat-enabling specialties must attain a score of at least 60 points per event and an overall minimum score of 300,” the Army added.
The overall change was meant to reflect the service’s continued focus on building a physically ready force capable of meeting operational demands in austere environments. In addition, the Army has been adapting its policy framework to support implementation, including support to soldiers with medical profiles and governance to monitor the impact of the new standard on readiness, retention, and end strength.
“For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral,” Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann told Task & Purpose. “The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event.”
There has been concern, including from the RAND authors, that pass/fail policies could impact women in the service, including retention rates.
However, Naumann dismissed that, adding, “Just like I wouldn’t put someone with a low test score on their ASVAB into a cyber job because there’s a certain level of intelligence that we assume is necessary to do that job, there’s a certain level of fitness that’s necessary to do certain jobs. It’s about being a fit force that’s ready to fight.”
