Army to replace the Army Combat Fitness Test: Here's what will be new for soldiers

The Army is changing the fitness test for all soldiers.

On Monday, the Army announced it was replacing the Army Combat Fitness Test with the Army Fitness Test, AFT, according to a news release published on its website.

"The five-event AFT is designed to enhance Soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force," the Army stated.

The phased implementation of the new test will begin on June 1, and on January 1, 2026, new scoring standards for 21 combat military occupational specialties will take effect for the active component. However, the Reserve and National Guard will have their new scoring standard take effect on June 1, 2026.

The test will be "sex-neutral and age-normed," the army stated.

What will the soldiers be tested on?

During the AFT, soldiers can expect to be tested on the following:

• Three-repetition maximum deadlift

• Hand-release push-up army extension

• Sprint-drag-carry

• Plank

• A two-mile run

What's the difference between the tests?

All the exercises listed in the AFT were also in the Army Combat Fitness Test with the exception of one.

The AFT predecessor also included a Standing Power Throw, according to the army's website.

What score do soldiers need to receive to pass the test?

Soldiers completing the test must achieve at least 60 points per event and an overall score of 350 points.

"RAND Corporation analysis and Army data from nearly 1 million test records helped inform the new standard," according to the Army.