SEALs and other Navy combat personnel face new annual fitness requirements

Military Affairs

By Frumentarius

January 22, 2026

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According to new physical fitness evaluation standards released by the U.S. Navy and outlined by The Navy Times on January 9, 2026, active duty U.S. Navy personnel in the combat arms professions – Navy SEALs, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, Special Warfare Combatant Crewman (SWCCs), and fleet divers – will now be subject to a more rigorous annual physical assessment regimen than in years past.

Called a “Combat Fitness Test” (CFT), the new standard for combat arms personnel will augment the Navy’s already extant Physical Readiness Test (PRT), which has been around in various iterations for decades. Combat arms personnel will still undergo the PRT once per year, but will now also undergo the CFT once per year as well, in a two-cycle system.

The remainder of non-combat arms U.S. Navy personnel will continue to utilize the PRT, but must now undergo two cycles of PRTs each year. In the past, all U.S. Navy personnel took only the PRT, and only one time per year.

The current 2026 PRT includes push-ups, a timed forearm plank (newly added in 2026), and a cardio event that can be either a 2,000-meter row (newly-added), a 12-minute stationary bike, a 500-yard swim, or a 1.5-mile timed run.

The CFT – which also goes hand-in-hand with a body composition assessment (BCA), as the PRT does – consists of the following, in order:

First, a timed 800-meter swim using any swim stroke, performed in either a pool or open water, with fins and goggles/face mask allowed. No flotation devices, snorkels, swim caps, or earplugs are permitted. Swimmers may also push off the wall between laps in the pool swims, but may not begin with a dive from the pool deck. Next, a 10-minute rest.

SWCC candidates swimming — Special Warfare Combat Crewman (SWCC) candidates practice using the combat side stroke during training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Naval Special Warfare is the nation’s elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach and gain and maintain access for the Joint Force in competition and conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Kerska)

Second, maximum push-ups in 2 minutes, wearing a 20-pound weighted vest or plate carrier. No part of the body can touch the ground other than hands and feet. No feet nor hands may leave the ground at any point. The body must remain straight and rigid throughout. Next, a two-minute rest.

Third, maximum pull-ups with 20-pound weighted vest or plate carrier. No quipping allowed, and both hands must remain on the bar throughout. Next, a 10-minute rest.

Fourth, a timed one-mile run with 20-pound rucksack, weighted vest, or plate carrier.

Navy push ups — Chief Petty Officer Joseph Schmidt, assigned to the Navy SEAL and SWCC Scout Team, encourages a young fan to do pushups at the 2016 Stuart AirShow. The Scout Team conducts outreach to community groups and athletic teams to inform them about the Naval Special Warfare training mission. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Pyoung K. Yi/Released)

Scoring for the CFT follows a sliding scale that accounts for age and ranges from “Pass” (45 points) to “High – Outstanding” (100 points), with SEALs and SWCC members having to perform marginally better than EOD and fleet divers in the timed run and pull-ups to achieve the max 100 points.

By way of a concrete example, for a Navy SEAL or SWCC who is between 30-34 years of age to simply pass the test, he must meet these minimum numbers (EOD/Diver minimums in parentheses): 17:30 minutes on the swim; 30 push-ups; nine pull-ups (five for EOD/Diver); and 13:30 on the run (15:30 for EOD/Diver).

For that same SEAL or SWCC to achieve 100 points, or a “High – Outstanding” score, he must meet these minimum numbers: 11:40 on the swim; 52 push-ups; 20 pull-ups (16 for EOD/Diver); 8:30 on the run (10:30 for EOD/Diver).

The full CFT scoring scales for all age groups and warfare specialities can be found here, along with a description of the new CFT and other related information.

Feature Image: A Future Special Warfare Sailor awaiting Navy boot camp fights for one more pull-up during a Warrior Challenge Program (WCP) event hosted by Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Houston. The NTAG Houston WCP team is tasked with identifying and preparing applicants for candidacy as a Navy SEAL, Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman (SWCC), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operator, Navy diver, or aviation rescue swimmer. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Josh Keim)