If you're a first-time visitor or new to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the User Guide is a great place to start!

LEARN.

TRAIN.

DOMINATE.

When will the Army require me to take the ACFT?

October 2020

2020 & Beyond

Data Collection

The ACFT is the Army's test of record. Soldiers may temporarily use the "plank" exercise instead of the Leg Tuck to assist the transition process.

Every year, Active Army and AGR Soldiers will take two ACFTs. Reserve and Guard Soldiers will take one ACFT.

Until further notice from the Army, all ACFT scores are recorded, but a Soldier's score or comments on performance are not permitted. No adverse action for failing.

User Guide

This website is specifically designed with small unit Army leaders in mind.  From initial "field testing" to implementing a comprehensive unit physical fitness training plan, armycombatfitnesstest.com has all the tools and resources you'll need to understand and train for the Army's new physical fitness test.  

Step 1 - Get familiar with ACFT Events, ACFT Standards, and ACFT Scoring

The Army Combat Fitness Test is a 6 event test with a 600 point maximum.  It is gender and age-neutral.  This means that a 22-year old male Soldier and a 40-year old female Soldier earn the same exact number of points for running 2 miles in 14 minutes.  According to guidance the Army issued on 22 March 2021, the Army will trial and explore a proposed tier performance band process based on gender to account for concerns about physiological differences. In the future, performance tiers may be used by the Army to provide a gender-neutral baseline for all Soldiers. Performance tiers will allow the Army to use the ACFT for promotions, order of merit lists, etc.

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What are the 6 events of the ACFT?

Soldiers will complete the following events in order, generally in less than 70 minutes:

1. 3-Repetition Maximum Deadlift

2. Standing Power Throw

3. Hand-Release Push-Up

4. Sprint-Drag-Carry

5. Leg Tuck or Static Plank Hold

6. 2-Mile Run

Visit the links to each individual event for a training guide or click here for a roll-up of event standards.  The full ACFT standards PDF is available here.

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What are the minimum requirements per MOS (ACFT Standards by MOS)?

• According to the most recent ACFT 3.0 guidance (23 March 2021), there are no specific minimum scores for any MOS identifier.

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Can you pass the new US Army Combat Fitness Test?

Of course! We're here to help you learn and apply the principles of effective physical training. With a well-planned progression of the right training methods, anyone can develop the capacity necessary to succeed in each ACFT event. 

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How difficult is it to pass the new test? 

It depends!  How fit are you?  We can measure physical fitness in a variety of different ways.  Elite marathon runners have great aerobic fitness; elite power-lifters have great muscular strength.  But if we measured their fitness using the ACFT, neither category of "athletes" would perform very well.  This is because the ACFT measures a more comprehensive type of fitness that accounts for aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, muscular strength, and muscular endurance.  This test punishes the specialist and rewards Soldiers that have strength and stamina.  In order to pass the test with the minimum ACFT score, Soldiers must:

• deadlift 140lbs​ for 3 repetitions

• standing power throw a 10lbs ball 4.5 meters

• execute 10 hand-release push-ups

• complete the sprint-drag-carry in 3 minutes

• do 1 leg tuck or hold a static plank for 2:09

• run 2 miles in less than 21:00

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Step 2 - Learn and Incorporate the Principles of Training

Exercising and training are not synonymous.  Globo-gyms across the world are littered with unfit exercisers.  So is the Army.  Just getting out there and pounding the pavement enough to run 2 miles in 13 minutes does not mean you've executed the type of training required to perform well on the ACFT (nor does it represent comprehensive physical fitness).  Real training is progressive in nature.  Real training requires real efforts to recover.  Real training results in the types of enhanced performance that recreational exercisers will never experience.  Learn and incorporate the following principles in order to start real training:

• Precision

• Progression

• Individualism

• Specificity

• Overload

• Recovery

Step 3 - Train Smarter, Not Harder

If you know where to look, high-quality training resources are readily available.  In fact, many resources are available for free on the internet.  The challenge is sifting through all the noise in order to find the good stuff.  That's the goal of Better Everyday - the Blog and official home of Training For 600.  We'll always keep you up-to-date with the Army's latest ACFT news and guidance, the most effective training techniques, and we'll keep you in touch with the larger Army fitness community. 

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Frequently Asked ACFT Questions

Does ACFT equipment have a NSN?  Yes. NSN 7830-01-675-1851 NIIN 01675185.  Find it here on GSA.

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How much does 1 lane of ACFT equipment cost?  About $2,524.00

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How many sets of ACFT equipment does my battalion need?  The U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training recommends 16

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What equipment do I need for 1 full lane of ACFT equipment?

• 1 Hexagonal Barbell

• Bumper Plates: 4 x 10lb, 2 x 15lb, 2 x 25lb, 2 x 35lb, 8 x 45lb

• 2 x Barbell Collars

• 1 x Nylon Sled + Strap

• 1 x 10lb Rubber Medicine Ball

• 2 x 40lb Kettlebells

• 1 x Measuring Tape

• 1 x Pull-Up Bar

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How long will ​it take to administer the ACFT?  Even during a mass-test, the goal is for a single Soldier to complete the test in under 70 minutes.  With the recommended 16 lanes for a battalion and a company of graders, an entire battalion can complete the test in about 4 hours.

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Has anyone built an excel file that calculates ACFT scores automatically?  YES!  And it's available for free on our files and downloads page!