(NewsNation) — The U.S. Army is changing its physical fitness test, including introducing new performance standards for soldiers in combat roles.
The test will be rebranded as the Army Fitness Test, replacing the Army Combat Fitness Test, the Army announced Monday, aiming to “enhance soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force.”
What will be new for soldiers?
The AFT will consist of five parts, including three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up army extension, sprint-drag carry, plank and a two-mile run.
The test will include gender-neutral scoring for soldiers in 21 combat-focused military roles. Those serving in combat specialties must achieve a minimum of 60 points per event and an overall minimum score of 350.
The current version of the test allows for a maximum score of 600 points, according to Military.com. However, the top score may be reduced to 500, with the removal of one event.
The AFT will no longer include the standing power throw, Military.com said. The event requires soldiers to hurl a 10-pound medicine ball backward over their heads and is often referred to as the “yeet.”
The event was often ridiculed by service members who viewed it as an “outlier that emphasizes technique over strength or endurance,” Military.com reported.
When will the changes take effect?
The AFT will be implemented in phases starting June 1. The new scoring standards for soldiers in 21 combat military occupational specialties will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and on June 1, 2026, for the Reserve and National Guard.
The Army said “implementation guidance and associated execution orders” will be released next month.
“The change reflects the Army’s continued focus on building a physically ready force capable of meeting operational demands in austere environments,” the Army said in a statement.
RAND Corporation analysis and Army data from nearly 1 million test records helped inform the new standard, according to the Army.