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New directive exempts Soldiers who score 540+ on the ACFT from body fat assessment
March 17, 2023 — The U.S. Army has released a directive exempting all Soldiers scoring 540 points or more on the Army Combat Fitness Test from the body fat assessment, regardless of their height and weight. Soldiers must score 80 points or more in each event... MORE

Army Expert Badges will share a physical fitness assessment
February 28, 2023 — The Army’s Expert Infantryman, Field Medical and Soldier badges will now share a common fitness assessment, while still maintaining the integrity and history of each badge... MORE

MEDCoE hosts Army Combat Fitness Test discussion panel
August 24, 2022 — Command Sgt. Maj. Clark Charpentier, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence Command Sergeant Major, hosted a panel to discuss the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, in Blesse Auditorium at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Aug. 11... MORE

Army implements ACFT based on scores, RAND study, Soldier feedback
March 24, 2022 — Following an in-depth independent review by RAND and a three-year evaluation period with Soldier feedback, the Army announced March 23 the implementation of the revised Army Combat Fitness Test, which begins April 1... MORE

Army Wellness Center provides resources for Army Combat Fitness Test preparation
September 14, 2021 — A new pilot program through the Army Wellness Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is helping servicemembers preparing to take the Army Combat Fitness Test. The Performance and Readiness Exercise Program, or PREP, provides instruction and training to Soldiers on the six exercises and skills they will need to pass... MORE

ACFT 3.0: Exploring a more inclusive scoring assessment, planks stay
March 23, 2021 — The latest version of the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT 3.0, is exploring the potential use of a performance tier program that accounts for the physiological differences between the genders, head of U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training recently said... MORE

A Soldier receives instruction on proper form for the Army Combat Fitness Test during the ACFT Trainers Course at the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officers Academy at Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 14, 2020.

MEDCoE conducts inaugural Army Combat Fitness Test summit
December 14, 2020 — A panel of senior and junior officers and enlisted personnel was organized Dec. 7 to focus on the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, by Sgt. Maj. Larry White II, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence G3 Operations Sergeant Major... MORE

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence Soldiers taking the Army Combat Fitness Test.

Holistic health added to Army fitness doctrine
October 2, 2020 — The ink has dried on the Army’s updated physical fitness doctrine, which now includes a portion on holistic health that aims to prevent injuries, increase Soldier lethality, and be an essential component of individual readiness... MORE

Staff Sgt. Sharonica White, assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Japan, completes a deadlift repetition during the U.S. Army Japan 2020 Army Week’s Army Combat Fitness Test Fitness Warrior Competition at Camp Zama, Japan, June 8, 2020.

COVID-19 sparks changes to Army Combat Fitness Test
June 17, 2020 — The Army Combat Fitness Test will be the force's test of record Oct. 1, but the Army's top enlisted soldier says troops will have more time to train for and pass the six-event test — without fear of it negatively impacting their careers... MORE

SMA expects ACFT to continue as planned in COVID-19 environment
May 28, 2020 — Despite some delays in fielding necessary equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Army’s top enlisted leader believes the service will still successfully implement its new Army Combat Fitness Test... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Phelps (top) gives instructions on the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, on May 14, 2020.

MEDCoE graduate student gets perfect score on Army Combat Fitness Test
February 13, 2020 — Second Lt. David Cummings is one who never backs down from a challenge, especially when it comes to pushing the limits of physical fitness... MORE

Minimize risk of ACFT injury by training smart
January 29, 2020 — Is the new Army Combat Fitness Test stressing you out? There are all of these new exercises--dead lifts, power throws, hand release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, and the leg tuck. How do you build the needed core fitness strength? Is it possible to train for the ACFT without hurting yourself?... MORE

U.S. Army Advanced Individual Training students perform leg tucks during an Army Combat Fitness Test at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 28, 2019. Leg tucks are the fifth event in the ACFT as it is a test of upper body and core muscle endurance that requires Soldiers to complete as many repetitions as possible in two minutes.

Eating right will improve ACFT score, says Army dietitian
November 20, 2019 — In addition to physical exercise, proper nutrition plays a major role in overall health, fitness, and training for the Army Combat Fitness Test... MORE

Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Division receive meals during the Iron Focus exercise. In addition to physical exercise, proper nutrition plays a major role in overall health, fitness, and training for the Army Combat Fitness Test, says an Army dietitian.

Class teaches how to prepare for new Army Combat Fitness Test
November 1, 2019 — Approximately 50 servicemembers learned about the standards for the Army’s newest fitness test and the proper techniques for preparing and training for it during a class held at the Vogel Resiliency Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 31... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jose Lopez, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade mechanic shop foreman, prepares to throw a 10-pound ball overheard as part of his training for the Army Combat Fitness Test Fitness Leaders Class at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 31. The class provided classroom and hands-on instruction to Army physical trainers and master fitness trainers on the proper techniques to train and prepare service members to pass the new Army Combat Fitness Test that will take effect in October 2020.

Army Combat Fitness Test changes affect all Soldiers
October 1, 2019 — Major changes are coming to the Army Combat Fitness Test, officials announced Sept. 27, with changes that will affect every Soldier. The changes, locked in for fiscal year 2020, include the official testing standards for all Soldiers, each one tailored to an individual's military occupational specialty... MORE

Staff Sgt. Gabriel Wright, a signals intelligence analyst with the 780th Military intelligence Brigade, grades the Hand-Release Push-Up event May 17, 2019, as part of Army Combat Fitness Test Level II Grader validation training, held at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Army public health experts offer advice for reducing training injuries
September 6, 2019 — One of the challenges facing Army leadership as they transition to the new Army Combat Fitness Test, which will be fully implemented by October 2020, is preventing musculoskeletal training injuries. Physical training is necessary to develop and maintain the fitness required to accomplish military missions, but is also known to cause injury... MORE

Army announces alternate assessments for ACFT field testing
May 21, 2019 — Following successful initial field testing, Army senior leaders have approved the development of alternate Army Combat Fitness Test assessments for selected Soldiers with permanent profiles that prevent full participation in the six-event test... MORE

U.S. Army North preps for Army Combat Fitness Test
February 11, 2019 — U.S. Army North Soldiers at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston participated in training for the Army Combat Fitness Test, learning techniques to better prepare for the new test Jan. 28... MORE

1st Sgt. Johnna M. Covington, Headquarters Support Company first sergeant, works on proper techniques for the Hand-Release Push-Up during training for the Army Combat Fitness Test at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 28. The ACFT is designed to provide Soldiers with a modern assessment of their physical fitness and help them maintain a high level of fitness while ensuring they are capable of handling physically demanding combat situations.

AMEDDC&S social work student defends world championship bodybuilding title
December 6, 2018 — Three years ago, when Army Capt. Johnny Dotson was a first lieutenant, he was approached by someone at the Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri) main post gym and encouraged to look into becoming a competitive body builder. Though he had never thought of competing, Dotson took the stranger’s suggestion and began the research that propelled him into the competition lifestyle... MORE

Army Capt. Johnny Dotson training at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Central Gym.

Are you Army Fit?
October 31, 2018 — Being Army Fit covers different dimensions, including physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family. Despite these dimensions, we look at the Soldier as being Army Fit mostly on the physical aspect verses the other dimensions... MORE

The main purpose of the Army Combat Fitness Testis twofold. First, the test ensures soldiers are ready for combat. Second, preparation for the test improves physical fitness as it relates to injury prevention. Beginning October 2020, all soldiers will be required to take the six-event "gender- and age-neutral" ACFT. The new fitness evaluation is designed to prepare soldiers for the rigors of combat while improving Army readiness.