U.S. Army Physical Fitness Requirements

Standby Soldiers!  The new Army Combat Fitness Test is being tested and evaluated and looks like it is on schedule to be a replacement for the current Army Physical Fitness Test by the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020. The need for age groups or male and female standards are no longer required as the battlefield does not care about age or gender. The new fitness test called the Army Combat Fitness Test are the following events: 

The New Army Combat Fitness Test

​1. Deadlift - This is a three-repetition maximum deadlift using a hex bar.  

​2. Standing Power Throw - Throw a 10-pound medicine ball as far as possible over the head and to the rear. 

​3. Hand-Raised Push-ups - Still have to do pushups, but now you have to add a lift of your hands off the floor when in the down (chest to ground) position each repetition. 

​4. A 250-Meter Sprint, Drag and Carry - This is five different tests within one event -- a 50-meter sprint; a backward 50-meter drag of a 90-pound sled; a 50-meter movement; a 50-meter carry of two 40-pound kettle bells; and a final 50-meter sprint.

​5. Leg Tuck - Is a hanging knee up from a pullup bar bringing the knees to the elbows multiple times. 

​6. Two-Mile Run - Some things never change.  Soldiers still have to run 2 miles for their cardio vascular endurance test. 

Occupational Physical Assessment Test

After Basic Combat Training, the soldiers will be tasked to take the Occupational Physical Assessment Test - which will determine how physically demanding of a job training (AIT) the new soldier will be able to attend.

  The OPAT are the following fitness events:

The OPAT measures muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, explosive power and speed. The tests used to measure these elements of tactical fitness include: (official Army Video of the OPAT)

1 - Standing Long Jump – This is the standard broad jump with no running to build momentum.

2 - Seated Power Throw is a forward throw with both arms while seated using a 4.4 pound (2kg) medicine ball the size of a basketball. 

3 - Strength Deadlift is the standard lift of weight (using a hex bar not a barbell) from the floor to a standing position. Start with 120lbs. and build up to 220lbs.

4 – Interval Run (Beep Test) is a short distance interval run designed to assess aerobic capacity. The intervals are only 20m apart and you start each 20m run on the sound of "beeps" that intervals decrease with time. 

The Current Army Physical Fitness Test

The below section is the current Army Physical Fitness Test and the male standard for ages 27-31. 

The U.S. Army measures physical aptitude through the Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT, which requires soldiers to complete three events: two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, and a two-mile run.

Scoring on the APFT is based on  age category, gender, number of repetitions performed of the push-up and sit-up, and run time. The score for each event ranges from 0 to 100 points. Soldiers need to score at least a 60 to pass the test. APFT standards may be tougher for some special purpose units.

Scores of 270 or above on the APFT -- with a minimum score of 90 in each event -- earn soldiers the Physical Fitness badge.

However, this test has been widely criticized for not adequately measuring strength and endurance. For this reason, in 2011 the Army piloted the Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT) on more than 10,000 soldiers, but eventually decided to stick with the APFT test.

U.S. Physical Fitness Charts for Males Age 27-31

While the APFT test is still being used, the following charts show the number of repetitions and scores needed for men ages 27 to 31 to pass the test. Standards vary by age and gender, and the standards have been criticized  due to the differences in passing scores for men and women.

Push-ups

Sit-Ups

Running (2 Miles)

Gender Neutral Tests

According to the U.S. Army, the new tests being developed will likely incorporate exercises that soldiers need on the battlefield, that revolve around gender-neutral and standards-based skills.

The Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) is gender-neutral test that includes a standing long jump, a dead lift, an aerobic interval run and a “seated power throw,” which is "a gauge of upper-body strength that represents loading ammunition," according to US Army Times.

Other details about the test, which is still being developed, include the following:

• Scoring for each event has yet to  been determined, but unlike the APFT, plans call for one system for all ages and genders.
• MOSs will be ranked in a three-tier system. Recruits with scores that fall short of Tier 1 (high-demand) in a given event, won’t be eligible for specialties in that tier.
• Recruits must meet the Tier 3 standards to join the Army.
• Re-tests will be allowed with time frames and limits to the number of tests to be determined.
• Like the APFT, the OPAT can be administered individually or in a group setting. 

Related Articles:

• Army Field Manuals
• Basic Training is Smarter, Not Softer
• The Rules of the Army Field Manual About Physical Training
• Recruiting School