The Army’s physical fitness test is changing again

In October 2022, the Army officially replaced the 40-year-old 3-Event physical fitness test with the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). Now, the ACFT, which had been in development since 2018 is changing.

The most recent changes to the Army Combat Fitness Test scoring are in the works based on a requirement that was included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to create a gender-neutral test for combat Military Occupational Specialties such as infantry.

“This test is an essential part of maintaining the readiness of the Army as we transform into the Army of 2030,” said Christine E. Wormuth, Secretary of the Army.

“The revisions to the ACFT are based on data and analysis, including an independent assessment required by Congress. We will continue to assess our implementation of the test to ensure it is fair and achieves our goal of strengthening the Army’s fitness culture,” she added.

ACFT was initially designed to measure functional strength to better prepare troops for combat. However, there were many complaints that the test was unfair to women, with 44% of women failing it during its developmental phase in March 2022. The test had one standard across the board, with no gender or age considerations.

Soldiers assigned to the Fort Bragg, N.C., based 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command complete the two-mile run during an Army Combat Fitness Test at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger/3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command)

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, said during an event of the Association of the United States Army on Tuesday, said the Army is now considering whether to use a gender-neutral version of the ACFT with a higher standard for combat arms soldiers, or just adjust the physical tests currently required for expert badges, such as the Expert Infantry Badge.

The way Soldiers work out has evolved due to the explosion of Cross-Fit gyms across the country. ACFT incorporates many of the same principles as Cross-Fit and that may have had an influence on how the Army decided to proceed.

Despite the protests about how ACFT is graded, it is a much better test than the old 3-Event test.

In the 3-Event test, Soldiers were scored on the number of pushups they could do in two minutes, followed by the number of sit-ups they could do in another two minutes; that test was finished with a timed two-minute run. There were different standards for men and women and it was graded on a curve by age.

The current ACFT is comprised of six events:

Deadlift: 140 pounds (minimum men) and 120 pounds (minimum women) three times

Power throw: six meters (men), 4.9 meters (women)

Hand-release push-up: 10 repetitions

Sprint-drag-carry: 2:28 (men), 3:15 (women)

Plank: 1:30 minutes

Two-mile run: 22 minutes (men), 23:15 (women)

The scoring for the test now has a breakdown according to age as well as Military Occupational Specialty.

If a Soldier scores 540 points (90%) they are exempt from being measured for height, weight, and body fat. “What we found is most people that score that (540 or higher) don’t need to be taped anyway,” Grinston said.

He added that there would be two additional changes to the AFCT that would be coming in April, but he didn’t explain what those will be.

Feature Image: Maj. Shunmas Cummings, a Soldier assigned to 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, completes the standing power throw during an Army Combat Fitness Test at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, April 21, 2022. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger/3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command)