AFT vs ACFT: What’s Different in the New Army Fitness Test
Quick Answer
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was officially replaced by the Army Fitness Test (AFT) on June 1, 2025. The biggest change is that the Standing Power Throw was removed, cutting the test from six events down to five. The Army also split scoring into two tracks: a general standard (300 points minimum) for most soldiers and a tougher combat standard (350 points minimum) for soldiers in 21 designated combat specialties. Active duty soldiers had to meet the new combat standard by January 1, 2026, while National Guard and Reserve soldiers have until June 1, 2026.
AFT vs ACFT: Side by Side Comparison
| Category | ACFT (old) | AFT (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of events | 6 | 5 |
| Events included | Deadlift, Standing Power Throw, Hand Release Push Up, Sprint Drag Carry, Plank, Two Mile Run | Deadlift, Hand Release Push Up, Sprint Drag Carry, Plank, Two Mile Run |
| Maximum possible score | 600 points (100 per event) | 500 points (100 per event) |
| Minimum score per event | 60 points | 60 points |
| General passing score | 360 total (varied by policy over time) | 300 total |
| Combat MOS passing score | Same standard applied to all under most versions | 350 total, sex neutral scoring |
| Scoring approach | Age and gender scaled for most soldiers | General standard is age and sex normed; combat standard is sex neutral |
| Core event | Leg Tuck, later replaced by Plank in 2022 | Plank |
| Test of record since | 2022 (revised version) | June 1, 2025 |
This table gives you the short version. Below, we break down exactly what changed event by event and why the Army made these calls.
Event by Event Changes: What Got Cut and What Stayed
If you trained for the ACFT, most of your work still applies. Four of the five AFT events are identical to what you already know. Here is exactly what changed.
Standing Power Throw: Removed Completely
This is the single biggest change. The Standing Power Throw asked soldiers to hurl a 10 pound medicine ball backward and overhead for distance. The Army pulled it from the test entirely, and it is not even offered as an alternate event anymore.
Why was it cut? Internal Army data reviewed with help from the RAND Corporation found that the Standing Power Throw had a strong link to training injuries, particularly to the shoulders and lower back, without adding much unique insight into a soldier’s actual readiness. With nearly a million ACFT records to study, the Army decided the injury risk was not worth what the event measured.
Leg Tuck to Plank: Already Changed Before AFT Arrived
A lot of soldiers still associate the ACFT with the Leg Tuck, where you hang from a bar and bring your knees up to your elbows. That event was actually phased out back in 2022, well before the AFT existed, and replaced with the Plank as the standard core strength event for everyone, not just as an alternate option. The Army made that switch after data showed a large gap in Leg Tuck pass rates between men and women, without clear evidence that the gap reflected real differences in job readiness.
So if you are wondering whether the Leg Tuck is coming back under the AFT, it is not. The Plank carried over from the modified ACFT and remains part of the AFT lineup.
Deadlift, Push Up, Sprint Drag Carry, and Run: No Structural Changes
The 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift, Hand Release Push Up, Sprint Drag Carry, and Two Mile Run all carry over from the ACFT with the same basic format. The movement standards, form requirements, and equipment are the same. What changed is how these four events fit into the new 500 point scoring system instead of the old 600 point system, since there is one less event to earn points from.
Scoring Structure: One Test, Two Standards
Under the ACFT, most soldiers were scored on a single scale that adjusted for age and gender. The AFT splits scoring into two distinct paths.
The general standard applies to most soldiers. It is normed by age and sex, and requires a minimum of 60 points in each event with a total score of at least 300 points.
The combat standard applies only to soldiers in 21 designated combat military occupational specialties, such as infantry, armor, and combat engineers. This standard is sex neutral, meaning men and women in these roles are held to the same numeric scoring table. It requires a minimum of 60 points per event and a total of at least 350 points.
In both cases, failing to hit the 60 point floor on even one event means you fail the entire test, no matter how high your total score is.
Why the Army Made the Switch
The Army did not change the test on a whim. The decision followed roughly 18 months of analysis using data pulled from nearly one million recorded ACFT attempts, along with independent research support from the RAND Corporation. Two main reasons drove the redesign.
Injury reduction. Certain events, especially the Standing Power Throw, were associated with a disproportionate number of training injuries relative to the fitness insight they provided. Cutting weak links reduces time lost to profiles and rehab across the force.
Combat relevance and fairness. Army leadership wanted a test that more directly reflects the physical demands of modern combat roles while also addressing long standing concerns that a single scoring scale did not fairly account for differences between general support roles and front line combat specialties. The two tiered standard, general versus combat, is the Army’s answer to that concern.
As Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax put it when the AFT was announced, the goal was a test that emphasizes holistic fitness over training just to beat individual events, while staying grounded in actual performance data.
Key Dates Every Soldier Should Know
- June 1, 2025: The AFT officially becomes the test of record for the Army, replacing the ACFT for active duty soldiers.
- September 30, 2025: Last day that ACFT scores recorded before May 31, 2025 count toward promotion points.
- October 1, 2025: The AFT general standard begins being used for promotion actions. General scores must be logged in DTMS starting this date.
- January 1, 2026: Full enforcement begins for active duty soldiers, including Active Guard Reserve soldiers and anyone mobilized on orders longer than 60 days. This is also when the combat standard scoring takes effect for active component soldiers in the 21 designated combat specialties, and when AFT combat scores must be recorded in DTMS.
- June 1, 2026: The new standards, including the combat standard for Guard and Reserve soldiers in combat specialties, become fully effective for the National Guard and Army Reserve.
Before January 1, 2026, no administrative action was taken against soldiers for failing the AFT, giving the force time to adjust training. After that date, failing a recorded test can trigger additional support and a retest opportunity, and failing two consecutive recorded tests can lead to further administrative action, including possible separation for those who cannot meet the standard.
Who Is Still Affected by ACFT Rules
As of today, the AFT Calculator is the test of record for the entire Army. There is no active population still being scored under the old ACFT rules for record purposes. The only place the ACFT still matters is historical: scores recorded before May 31, 2025 were honored for promotion points through September 30, 2025, and units may still reference old ACFT data for training history or profile documentation.
The one group with a later deadline is National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers in the 21 designated combat specialties, who have until June 1, 2026 to meet the tougher 350 point combat standard. Until that date, they are held to the general 300 point standard even if their specialty would otherwise require the combat standard.
If you separated, retired, or have not tested since before mid-2025, expect your next official test to be the AFT, not the ACFT, regardless of what you trained on previously.