The US Army is launching major changes to its existing fitness test, with a new name and the elimination of a largely criticized element. Under an internal Army memo acquired by Military.com, the revamped fitness test will be formally designated as the Army Fitness Test (AFT) in place of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). The new iteration will be enforced across all the components—active duty, Army Reserve, and National Guard—from June.

Major Modification: Elimination of the Standing Power Throw

One of the most dramatic changes is getting rid of the Standing Power Throw, an exercise that had the soldiers throwing a 10-pound medicine ball over their heads in reverse. Many saw this as being more technical than purely involving strength or stamina.

Gender-Neutral Standards Take Priority

The updated test arrives amid growing conversations around gender neutrality in military fitness requirements. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized this in a recent post on his official X account, stating, “We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles. Soon, we’ll have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat.”

Hegseth, who has been an advocate of equal physical standards for both genders, has also demanded a thorough review of fitness standards in all branches of the US military.

Why ACFT Failed to Deliver

Initially rolled out in 2022 following almost ten years of designing, the ACFT was envisioned to make physical tests more aligned with particular Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). The role-specific design fell through, though, due to logistical concerns before being scrapped entirely. The nuance of rating soldiers differently in accordance with the roles they do was too bothersome to universally adopt.

Therefore, the Army switched to a more standard approach with the AFT, emphasizing simplicity and consistency of testing rather than specialization.

New Test Considered Easier to Pass but Hard to Master

Although the AFT lowers the pass threshold, critics argue that top performance continues to require significant physical ability. For instance, male soldiers need only run two miles in 22 minutes and do 10 hand-release push-ups in order to pass. Nevertheless, top scorers are required to perform both strength and finesse.

This change has also led to controversy in the Army ranks, as some argue that the reduced minimum standards do not align with the physical requirements of contemporary combat duties. However, Army officials assure that the test aims to achieve general fitness and readiness while reducing undue complexity.

Adjustments for Injured Soldiers in Combat Roles

The Army has also provided accommodations for soldiers who are wounded or cannot perform the full set of test events. Combat position holders who cannot finish the entire AFT will still need to achieve a minimum of 70 points in each of the events that they can conduct. The Army, however, has not yet published the new scoring chart, which leaves some confusion regarding how these new requirements will be enforced.

The overhaul of the Army fitness test is an important step forward in the military’s physical readiness assessment process. By stripping controversial aspects out of the test and bringing performance markers in line with changing expectations in combat, the Army is pushing to provide an equitable, efficient assessment method across all soldiers in its ranks.

While advocates view the AFT as a much-needed modernization, others are uncertain if the reforms will actually ready soldiers for the demands of combat. As the test begins in June, the Army will probably watch for feedback and continue to hone the standards to address operational requirements and ensure fairness across the board.