Army Combat Fitness Test: What are the key changes for soldiers?

The U.S. Army is making significant changes to its fitness test, according to an internal memo obtained by Military.com. Among the revisions: a new name, the removal of one of its most criticized components, and updated performance standards.

The current Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) will be renamed as the Army Fitness Test (AFT). Starting June, soldiers in active duty, the Army Reserve, and the National Guard will begin taking the updated test.

Key Changes

1. The Army is removing the Standing Power Throw, where soldiers were required to hurl a 10-pound medicine ball backward over their heads. This was criticized for emphasizing technique over raw strength or endurance. Its removal may reduce the overall maximum score of the test from 600 to 500 points.
2. Unlike the previous ACFT—which was designed to assess soldiers based on their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)—the new AFT will adopt a more uniform approach. The MOS-specific model, introduced in 2022 after nearly a decade of development, was scrapped due to logistical complications.
3. While the minimum standards appear modest, such as completing 10 hand-release push-ups and a 2-mile run in 22 minutes for men, achieving a high score will still require elite physical conditioning and refined technique.
4. Soldiers who are unable to complete the full test due to combat-related injuries will be required to score at least 70 points in each event they are able to perform. A new scoring chart is in development but has yet to be released.

What Pete Hegseth Said

In a post on his X handle, Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defence said “We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles. Soon, we’ll have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat.”

Gender-neutral standards for fitness have been a policy priority for Hegseth as he has also directed a review of fitness standards across all of the defence services.