The US Army replaces the Army Fitness Fitness Test (ACFT) with a simplified version of the Army Fitness Test (AFT), according to the internal notes obtained by Militude.com. The modified test drops the word “battle” from its name, removes critical events, and sets a new performance benchmark for soldiers in the combat role.
The AFT, set for step -by -step implementation from June 1, 2025, maintains five events in the current test. Three repetitive maximum deadlift, hand release push up, ARM expansion, sprint drag carry, plank and 2 miles running. In order to prefer bigger participants and rely on the technology of robbery, the looting power space, which has been ridiculed by soldiers, will be removed. According to Rand Corporation studies, the correlation between the previous event and the height of the soldier was mentioned.
The updated AFT is a sex neutral for the 21 combat military career (MOS), including infantry, armor, on -site artillery, cavalry and special forces, but will introduce age standards. These soldiers must achieve at least 60 points in each event and the minimum score is 350. Tests are reduced from previous 600 to 500 points due to the decrease in the event. The new standard will be held on January 1, 2026, for active soldiers and the reserve army and defense forces on June 1, 2026.
vote
Do the military support the introduction of sex neutral fitness standards?
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth was a vocal supporter. Gender neutral fitness standard. HegSeth said in a video posted in March X, “We need the same standard, male or woman in the battle role.” Soon we will have the highest standard for men and women in combat. “
The memo explains the details of the combat role, but the Canon crew and the combat medical staff are omitted to question whether they are supervised. In addition, it is not clear whether soldiers with 540 scores will maintain the current policy of skipping height and weight evaluation. The army has not yet responded to the request for explanation.
The introduction of AFT occurs in criticism that the existing test has a low threshold for passing. Currently, soldiers can only complete 10 push -ups and run 2 miles within 22 minutes. In contrast, high scores require elite exercise performance.
Soldiers with medical profiles that cannot complete all test events must earn at least 70 points in each allowed event. Implementation guidelines and execution orders are expected in May.
ACFT began in 2022 after development for more than 10 years. At first, this approach, which was conceived by the task evaluation adjusted to other moss, was discarded due to logistics complexity. The gender neutral standard, once the cornerstone of ACFT, fell similarly.
According to the Army, the new test is to “improves military health, improves preparation for war, and increases the fatality of power.