The Air Force has completed a thorough review of fitness standards. They have introduced a redesigned Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) for Airmen and updated the Human Performance Assessment (HPA) for Guardians. The new standard will go into effect in 2026 (March for Airmen and January for Guardians). It also includes a six-month diagnostic period, impacting testing, frequency, components, scoring and standards. The changes are designed to improve the wellbeing, boost mission effectiveness and foster a culture of personal excellence.
New Physical Fitness Standards
The key change to the new standard is the test is now required to be completed twice a year. Previously. Airmen and Guardians who scored higher than 90 would only need to take the test once a year. Guardians also had the option to enroll in the Continuous Fitness Assessment/Personalized Readiness study and were not required to take the HPA. Now all Airmen are required to take the PFA twice per year. Guardians who are part of the Continuous Fitness Assessment/Personalized Readiness study are now required to take the test once per year. If Guardians do not participate in the study, they will be required to take the test twice a year.
A secondary change is the distance Airmen and Guardians are required to run during the PFA/HPA. The run has been extended from 1.5 miles to 2 miles. While the alternate components will remain authorized, it is important to note, that Airmen and Guardians must include the 2 mile run for at least one of the PFA/HPA during the year.
Fitness Test Score Adjustments
The Air Force PFA is based on 100 points and includes 50 points for the 2 mile run, 20 points for Body Composition (Weight to Height Ratio), 15 for Strength, and 15 for Core Endurance. The PFA scoring has been rebalanced to better reflect the relative importance of each component in assessing overall health, fitness, and readiness. Airmen must score 75 overall, while meeting minimum standards in each category.
The standards are the same for Guardians but do not include the 20 points for Body Composition. This makes the HPA out of 80 points. Guardians must meet a minimum standard of 60 points to be considered physically “ready.”
New Standards for 2026
Airmen will begin implementing these standards in March 2026. Commanders will have the option to conduct mass testing for PFAs twice per year. Cycle 1 will be in March, and Cycle 2 will be in September. The Space Force is implementing the change beginning January 2026. All Guardians will be required to take the HPA between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026.
The Air Force and Space Force are also working to stand up program to manage the new programs. The Air Force created the Master Fitness Leaders leveraging the Sustainment Services Career Field. While the Space Force will have each Squadron create Unit Fitness Cells staffed by Guardians Resilience Teams to manage and administer assessments.
The biggest change in the physical fitness standard is increasing the run distance from 1.5 mile to 2 miles. Additionally, removing the option to do a shuttle run may be a challenge for some members. Airmen who scored above 90 were able to take the test once a year or not at all if Guardians opted into the fitness study. Now all members of the Space Force and Air Force will have to meet physical fitness standards.
