Army AFT Standards: The Guide to Physical Readiness

Army AFT standards represent the most significant and scientifically rigorous physical readiness assessment in the history of the United States military. Following the transitional era of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the force has adopted a refined, data-driven protocol: the Army Fitness Test (AFT).

For nearly half a century, the American soldier's fitness was measured by a simple triad of push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run. While administratively convenient, this legacy test failed to capture the dynamic, explosive, and load-bearing requirements of modern warfare. The current assessment is a five-event test designed to ensure that every soldier possesses the physical capacity to fight and win.

In this guide, we will answer the following questions:

• What's the strategic purpose of the new Army AFT standards, and how do they differ from the previous tests?
• What are the new AFT standards?
• How does the scoring system distinguish AFT combat standards for close-combat military occupational specialties (MOS) from general physiological standards?
• What are the metrics for the AFT row standard, and what's the AFT female standard?

The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was, for many years, the norm, featuring a simple calisthenics and running model. However, in contemporary warfare, it has been found that military needs are no longer satisfied with aerobic fitness alone. According to archives from the MacDill Air Force Base, the transition away from the APFT marked the beginning of a more combat-focused fitness culture.

The Army Fitness Test (AFT) retains the combat-focused requirements of its predecessor within five events. Most importantly, it features a permanent two-tiered scoring system that differentiates between Combat and Combat Enabling (Non-Combat) roles.

When soldiers ask, "What are the new AFT standards?", they are inquiring about the specific events and the numbers required to pass. The AFT is a test of functional fitness, meaning every event correlates to a particular task or drill.

The five events of the AFT are:

1. 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL) for measuring absolute strength and lower body power;
2. Hand-Release Push-Up (HRP) for measuring upper body muscles endurance and shoulder stability;
3. Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC) for measuring anaerobic capacity, agility, and muscle endurance when subject to a load;
4. Plank (PLK) for measuring core strength and isometric stability; and
5. Two-Mile Run (2MR) for measuring aerobic endurance.

The AFT doesn't test quantity or speed — it tests quality. The execution standards are rigorous, requiring strict adherence to form to ensure that the test measures the intended muscle groups and energy systems.

The most radical aspect of the new AFT standards for the Army is the scoring system. The Army has moved away from a uniform standard to one based on occupational requirements. According to the official Army AFT website, this shift ensures that higher physical standards are strictly aligned with the unique demands of combat roles.

1. The Combat Standard (Sex-Neutral, Age-Normed)

This standard applies to soldiers in 21 specific MOSs classified as combat-focused, such as Infantry (11B) and Cavalry Scouts (19D).

• Requirement: You must achieve a minimum of 60 points per event and a total score of 350 points. This means that it isn't enough to score 60 per event; you must average 70 points across the board to pass.
• The AFT combat standards are sex-neutral. A female Infantry officer and a male Infantry officer use the same scoring table. However, the table is age-normed, meaning the requirements adjust slightly as soldiers age to account for natural physiological changes.

2. The General Standard (Sex- and Age-Normed)

This standard applies to the Combat Enabling population, encompassing support, logistics, cyber, medical, and administrative roles.

• Requirement: You must achieve a minimum of 60 points per event and a total score of 300 points.
• Scores are based on demographic capabilities. AFT female standards in this category are distinct from male standards, designed to challenge female soldiers relative to their physiology.

For soldiers with permanent medical profiles that prohibit running, the AFT provides alternate aerobic assessments. These are scored on a Go/No-Go basis. The AFT row standard is of particular interest because the rowing machine engages the posterior chain similarly to the deadlift.

The passing standards are specific to age and gender/category (Combat vs. Non-Combat).

Notice that the AFT row standard gets harder as you approach the 27-31 age bracket. A 27-year-old combat soldier must hold a pace of roughly 3:02 per 500m for over 30 minutes to receive a "Go".

The conversation around AFT female standards is nuanced. The AFT aims to balance the biological realities of the female physique with the non-negotiable demands of combat.

• Non-Combat Roles (Combat Enabling)

  The standards are performance-normed. This means the scoring tables are built around the bell curve of female performance data. For example, a 22-year-old female in a non-combat role needs to lift 120 pounds on the deadlift to pass with 60 points.

• Combat Roles

  There are no separate AFT female standards for combat arms. A female Cavalry Scout (19D) must perform according to the "Combat" column. This requirement is a significant challenge. A female soldier in this MOS must hit the same 15 hand-release push-ups and 2:28 SDC time as her male counterpart in the 17-21 bracket. This policy ensures that the "Combat" designation on a soldier's record is a universal guarantee of physical capability.

The Army AFT standards mark a turning point in military fitness. By transitioning from a "one-size-fits-all" to an occupation-specific model, the Army has aligned its physical fitness assessment with the demands of modern warfare. For the soldier, the mission stays the same: be ready and stay consistent. The scoring is mathematical, and the clock doesn't lie.