The Army Fitness Test (AFT) has five events: the 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL), the Hand Release Push-Up (HRP), the Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC), the Plank, and the Two-Mile Run (2MR). Each one targets a different trait, such as lower body strength, upper body endurance, speed and agility, core stability, or aerobic fitness, and none gives a full picture alone. This article explains what each event measures, how scoring differs between the General and Combat standards, and which abilities the test leaves unassessed.
The Five Events and Their Physical Demands
The Army Fitness Test became the official test of record on June 1, 2025, replacing the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with events the Army links to combat readiness. One ACFT event, the Standing Power Throw, was removed because of its technical nature and injury risk. A side-by-side look at how the six events became five covers that change in more detail. Each remaining event targets a different physical trait, and no single event gives a full picture of a Soldier's fitness on its own.
Strength and Power: The Deadlift and Push-Up
- The 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL) uses a 60-pound hex bar loaded with plates. Soldiers get up to two attempts to lift the heaviest weight they can for three continuous repetitions. It measures lower body force, grip, and the ability to move heavy loads safely.
- The Hand Release Push-Up, Arm Extension (HRP) counts repetitions completed in 2 minutes. Between repetitions, the hands leave the floor and extend into a "T" position. The event measures upper body muscular endurance and pushing power, so pacing matters as much as raw strength.
Speed and Stability: The Sprint-Drag-Carry and Plank
- The Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC) covers five 50-meter shuttles with a 90-pound sled and two 40-pound kettlebells. The sequence is a sprint, a backward sled drag, a lateral movement, a kettlebell carry, and a final sprint. It tests anaerobic capacity, agility, and moving equipment under stress.
- The Plank (PLK) asks Soldiers to hold a proper plank position for as long as possible. It evaluates core stability and postural control, which means holding a position rather than moving a load.
Aerobic Capacity: The Two-Mile Run
- The Two-Mile Run (2MR) is timed on a measured, generally flat, improved surface such as a track, road, or sidewalk. It assesses long-duration cardiovascular stamina. Because the course is flat, it does not test hill or rough-terrain running. Finishing times vary with age, sex, current fitness, and pacing, which is why the scoring tables that follow treat them differently.
Scoring Standards for General and Combat Roles
Raw results from the five events only become meaningful once they are converted into points, and the table a Soldier is scored against depends on the job they hold. The Army Fitness Test uses two standards. The General standard covers combat enabling specialties, requires 300 total points, and keeps scoring both sex and age normed. The Combat standard is sex neutral but still age normed, so men and women in the same age group must meet identical point requirements.
The 350 Point Combat Standard
Soldiers in 21 combat MOSs (Military Occupational Specialties, the Army's job codes) must reach a total of 350 points with at least 60 points in every event. The list covers infantry, engineer, armor, and special forces codes such as 11B, 12B, 19D, and 18B. Because each event has its own floor, a fast 2MR cannot make up for an MDL score below 60. The higher standard applies to the active component starting January 1, 2026. Reserve and National Guard Soldiers in these MOSs follow it from June 1, 2026. A voluntary reclassification phase ran from September through December 2025 for Soldiers in combat MOSs who did not meet the 350 mark.
Point Thresholds and Performance Tiers
The scoring tables convert pounds lifted, repetitions, and times into points for each event. Some simple arithmetic shows how the two totals compare. Five events at 60 points each add up to 300, which equals the General minimum. The Combat total of 350 works out to an average of 70 points per event, so Soldiers sitting near 60 in several events need noticeably higher scores elsewhere. Under the General standard, the same deadlift or run time can earn different points depending on age group and sex. Under the Combat standard, only age changes the conversion. Where any individual lands still depends on age, current fitness, technique, and health, and checking results against the official tables or a score chart built from them shows how far each event sits above or below the required floor.
Test Rules, Faults, and Alternate Events
Points depend on repetitions and times that graders accept as meeting the event standard, so execution rules carry as much weight as effort. The test also has clear limits. It is run with fixed equipment on a generally flat course, which means it does not assess obstacle negotiation or movement over rough ground. Any separate field or job specific test a combat role may require is defined in official Army publications rather than in AFT scoring tables.
Common Faults and Retest Policies
Each event has form rules that determine whether effort counts. For the HRP, the Army's fitness requirements page states that the hands must release from the floor at the bottom of each repetition; a repetition without that release may not be counted. The MDL requires three successful repetitions at the chosen weight, and plank time counts only while a proper position is held. Active duty scores are recorded twice a year, while Reserve and National Guard scores are recorded once a year. Soldiers who fail a record test receive support and training, but missing two consecutive recorded-score AFTs may lead to involuntary separation. Because minimums differ between standards, a breakdown of per event differences between Combat and General scoring helps identify which event carries the most risk of failure.
Alternate Aerobic Events for Medical Profiles
Soldiers with permanent medical conditions may perform alternate events such as walking or swimming in place of the 2MR. These options replace the run, but they load the body differently and are scored on their own standards. Soldiers on temporary profiles may use alternate events for training; they cannot take a scored AFT until medically cleared. Eligibility comes from a written medical profile, which is why a medical provider's assessment shapes which events a Soldier may perform. Specific distances and time standards for each alternate event are listed in official Army scoring guidance.
Preparing for the 2025 Transition
The Army Fitness Test ties each Soldier's score to a specific standard, so the same raw result can mean different things under the General standard and the Combat standard. Going forward, checking your event results against the official scoring tables for your age group and MOS can show where training time may matter most. Your chain of command, official Army publications, or a medical professional can address personal questions.
