The Army fitness test has undergone a major transformation in 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the U.S. Army’s approach to physical readiness, gender equality, and combat preparedness. Starting June 1, 2025, the U.S. Army will roll out a restructured physical fitness evaluation designed to hold all combat troops—regardless of gender—to the same physical standards.
The newly rebranded Army fitness test (AFT) will fully replace the existing Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), following months of internal reviews, performance data analysis, congressional directives, and calls for equality in combat-specific military occupational specialties (MOS).A Move Toward Gender-Neutral Testing in the U.S. Military
The decision to standardize the Army fitness test across genders comes amid long-standing debates about the fairness and effectiveness of using different physical standards for male and female soldiers in combat roles. As the nature of warfare becomes increasingly demanding, the U.S. military is pushing for a more realistic assessment of a soldier’s ability to perform in high-stress, physically grueling situations—regardless of gender identity.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth voiced strong support for this shift, stating, “We cannot continue with double standards in our combat arms. Whether you are male or female, the battlefield doesn’t care. Our soldiers must all meet one standard, and the new Army fitness test delivers exactly that.”
This change, which aligns with mandates included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, is being hailed as a progressive move that better reflects the realities of combat service and operational readiness.
Key Highlights of the New Army Fitness Test
Here’s what you need to know about the revised Army fitness test:
- Launch Date: June 1, 2025 (active-duty)
- Gender-Neutral Implementation:
- January 1, 2026 (Active-Duty)
- June 1, 2026 (Reserve and National Guard)
- Combat Roles Affected: 21 MOS
- Passing Scores:
- Standard Roles: 300 points (min. 60 per event)
- Combat MOS: 350 points (min. 60 per event)
The upgraded Army fitness test is a response to the growing demand for a force that is physically prepared for modern combat and expeditionary operations in remote, austere environments.
What Prompted the Army Fitness Test Overhaul?
The old ACFT faced criticism on several fronts. While it aimed to modernize military fitness testing, it was met with pushback for being overly complicated, failing to deliver consistent results across testing centers, and most notably, offering gender-based scoring curves that many saw as unfair—particularly in combat arms.
The new Army fitness test solves these problems by providing a simplified, five-event structure with scoring applied uniformly to all soldiers in physically demanding roles. This marks a return to a more objective evaluation system that focuses on actual combat capabilities rather than compensatory scoring.
Components of the Updated Army Fitness Test
The revised Army fitness test now consists of five events, designed to test multiple physical domains including strength, endurance, power, agility, and core stability. These events are:
- Three-Repetition Maximum Deadlift (3RM):
Measures lower-body and core strength, simulating lifting heavy loads under combat conditions. - Hand-Release Push-Ups:
Focuses on upper-body strength and muscle endurance with added emphasis on full range of motion. - Sprint-Drag-Carry:
Evaluates anaerobic capacity and agility by simulating combat movement under duress. - Plank Hold:
Replaces the leg tuck and measures core strength and muscle endurance, crucial for load-bearing missions. - Two-Mile Run:
Measures cardiovascular endurance under time constraints, simulating withdrawal or reinforcement runs in combat.
Removed Event: The Standing Power Throw
Once dubbed the “yeet” event by soldiers, the standing power throw was widely criticized for being impractical. It has now been eliminated from the Army fitness test, making the evaluation more focused and combat-relevant.
Gender-Neutral Standards: The Big Shift
The most significant change in the new Army fitness test is the removal of gender-based scoring. Soldiers in 21 combat-specific MOS—including infantry, special forces, cavalry, artillery, armor, mortarmen, and combat engineers—will now be held to the same performance standards.
According to Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann, “For those 21 MOS, they will all be graded on the male scale. It is now a truly sex-neutral scoring system. The passing score will be 350 points with no less than 60 in any of the five events.”
This change affects thousands of soldiers and new recruits and is designed to ensure that all combat personnel are equally prepared for the physical rigors of deployment, regardless of gender.
Rollout Timeline for the New Army Fitness Test
The rollout of the new Army fitness test is scheduled in phases to allow time for units to adjust and for training protocols to be updated:
- June 1, 2025: Test becomes official for all active-duty soldiers
- January 1, 2026: Gender-neutral standards enforced for combat MOS (active-duty)
- June 1, 2026: Gender-neutral standards enforced for Reserve and National Guard units
This timeline gives commands the ability to retrain, reequip, and reeducate soldiers on expectations well in advance of the scoring switch.
Strategic Significance of the New Army Fitness Test
The upgraded Army United states goes beyond just being a physical evaluation tool. It’s now a strategic framework for building a combat-ready force capable of deploying on short notice and performing in harsh environments.
By creating a common standard for both men and women in combat roles, the test also supports morale and unit cohesion. Soldiers will no longer wonder if teammates are being held to different expectations. Everyone will be held accountable to the same standard—and that has powerful implications for trust, respect, and mission success.
Reactions from the Ranks
Early reactions to the new Army fitness test have been mixed but increasingly positive as units begin to train under the revised guidelines. Many female soldiers have welcomed the opportunity to prove themselves under the same standards as their male counterparts, while others have acknowledged the difficulty but agree on its fairness.
Some skeptics remain, particularly among older service members who question whether the test might reduce pass rates. However, leadership has emphasized that this change is not about pass/fail statistics—it’s about readiness, accountability, and operational effectiveness.
Conclusion: A New Standard for a New Generation
The new Army fitness test marks a turning point in how the U.S. Army prepares its soldiers for combat. With the introduction of gender-neutral scoring, the elimination of impractical events, and a renewed focus on combat relevance, the AFT is set to become more than just a test—it’s a mission-critical benchmark for 21st-century military readiness.
As the U.S. Army adapts to meet the evolving nature of global threats, the Army fitness test is helping ensure that its soldiers—no matter their gender—are trained, tested, and ready to answer the call.
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