The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) had different requirements for men and women, with older soldiers having reduced benchmarks. The test included challenging exercises like weight throws, leg tucks, and a two-mile run. It did measure the overall fitness of the servicemember, but some have said it was just a complex system that didn't reflect what really happened in combat.
- Men: Required more leg tucks and faster run times.
- Women: Had lower benchmarks for leg tucks and running.
- Age: Older soldiers had reduced requirements.
The focus was primarily on passing the test, with less emphasis on injury prevention or long-term health. This approach often left gaps in preparing soldiers for real-world combat scenarios.
The Army Fitness Test (AFT), introduced in 2025, replaced the ACFT to better align with combat readiness. The AFT introduced gender-neutral standards for combat roles, ensuring fairness, but it made sure to retain age-normed scoring for all soldiers.
- Men & Women: Same standards for combat roles, ensuring equality.
- Age: Adjusted requirements remain for older soldiers.
The test includes simplified exercises like deadlifts, push-ups, planks, a two-mile run, and sprint-drag-carry drills. Combat roles require a minimum score of 350, while non-combat roles require 300.
Just to give you an example of how things are scored, the average man takes about 18 minutes to run two miles. Running two miles in 18 minutes would give a 21-year-old 74 points. These changes aim to reduce injuries, improve readiness, and transform the Army’s fitness culture into one that prioritizes long-term health and performance.
The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT) had separate requirements for men and women, with older Marines having reduced benchmarks. The tests included crunches, a three-mile run, and tasks like lifting ammo cans.
- Men: Required pull-ups.
- Women: Could do a flexed-arm hang instead of pull-ups.
- Age: Older Marines had lower benchmarks.
Like the other branches, this did test overall fitness, but it was lacking when it came to real-life combat. They had to take a close look at it to make sure their Marines stayed Marine Strong.
The Marine Corps has updated its fitness tests to better reflect modern combat demands. The PFT now includes planks instead of crunches to test core strength, while the CFT has been expanded to include more realistic combat scenarios.
- Men & Women: Gender-specific scoring remains for pull-ups and planks.
- Age: Adjusted requirements continue for older Marines.
The CFT now includes tasks like dragging a teammate and throwing grenades, which simulate real-life combat situations. No doubt this is designed to keep Marines prepared for any battlefield situation they might run into.
The Navy’s Physical Readiness Test (PRT) was simple but limited, with different benchmarks for men and women. Older sailors also had reduced requirements. The test included push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run.
- Men: Required more push-ups and faster run times.
- Women: Had lower benchmarks for push-ups and running.
- Age: Older sailors had reduced requirements.
There were no alternative exercises for those with injuries, and the test didn’t account for environmental factors like altitude. The goal here was supposed to be simple: measure basic fitness. The problem is that it wasn't flexible enough.
The Navy has modernized its PRT to make it more practical. Sit-ups have been replaced with planks to better measure core strength, and sailors can now choose alternative cardio options like swimming or biking.
- Men & Women: Gender-specific scoring remains for push-ups and planks.
- Age: Adjusted requirements continue for older sailors.
The test also now accounts for environmental factors like altitude, which is a pretty big deal for sailors stationed in high-altitude locations. The aim was to create a more comprehensive and inclusive fitness assessment while maintaining high standards for physical readiness.
The Air Force’s Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) focused on push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. Men had tougher requirements than women, and older Airmen had reduced benchmarks.
- Men: Required more push-ups and faster run times.
- Women: Had lower benchmarks for push-ups and running.
- Age: Older Airmen had reduced requirements.
Because the Air Force isn't quite like the other branches, it needed some alternations. Specifically, the body fat test measured waist size, but many felt it was outdated and inaccurate. Plus, the test only happened once a year, so it didn’t always reflect year-round readiness or overall health.
For 2025, the Air Force has introduced a more comprehensive and frequent fitness test. The PFA now happens twice a year and includes a two-mile run. Waist size has been replaced with a waist-to-height ratio for measuring body composition, and I think we can all agree that it's more accurate.
- Men & Women: Gender-specific benchmarks remain for most exercises.
- Age: Adjusted requirements continue for older Airmen.
This is already looking better than the previous PFA, but only time will tell. The updated test is supposed to reflect a shift toward a more holistic approach to fitness.
Most branches of the military only require fitness tests once a year. Originally, it felt like annual testing was sufficient enough to check basic fitness levels, but we all know that the person you are in the summer isn't the person you are in the winter. It just didn’t make sure that service members were prepared for the physical demands of their roles year-round.
- Men & Women: Tested under the same annual schedule.
- Age: No adjustments in testing frequency for older service members.
In theory, testing once a year was fine, but the world isn't what it was. The idea of meeting minimum standards once a year should have been enough, but some claimed that the old testing styles left a gap in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
To make up for that, most branches have moved to biannual testing to make sure service members maintain a higher level of fitness throughout the year. Combat roles require additional combat-specific assessments because they're currently active.
- Men & Women: Testing frequency applies equally to all genders.
- Age: No changes in testing frequency based on age.
Some roles now require daily physical training, with leaders enforcing readiness standards. These changes are supposed to create a more consistent and rigorous approach to fitness to keep our service members ready for anything that comes their way.
It's well known that in the past, most fitness tests had different rules for men and women. Women often had lower requirements, such as fewer push-ups or slower run times. Tests were also adjusted for age, so older service members didn’t have to meet the same standards as younger ones.
- Men: Held to higher physical benchmarks.
- Women: Had reduced requirements for most exercises.
- Age: Adjustments were made to account for physical changes over time.
The idea was there, but some started to question the gender-specific method. After all, men and women will experience the same thing in combat, won't they?
Now, gender-neutral standards were pushed out, meaning men and women are held to the same requirements for these jobs. The changes really just impacted combat roles because non-combat roles retain gender-specific and age-normed scoring.
- Men & Women: Same standards for combat roles forequality.
- Age: Adjustments remain for non-combat roles.
These changes aimed to keep all service members in combat roles up to the physical demands of their positions. We'll see if this new testing regimen is the right approach.
Body composition was measured using outdated methods like the tape test, which checked waist size. These methods often had different thresholds for men and women, but everyone is shaped differently, despite their fitness levels.
- Men: Had stricter waist size requirements.
- Women: Allowed slightly larger waist measurements.
- Age: No specific adjustments for older service members.
Over the years, the tape test has been widely criticized for being inconsistent. Perfectly good service members might not make the cut, so it was time for a change.
Now, the Air Force and Navy use a waist-to-height ratio to measure body composition, which is supposed to be more fair. It did still different thresholds for men and women but provides a better overall assessment of health.
- Men & Women: Gender-specific thresholds remain for the waist-to-height ratio.
- Age: No specific adjustments for older service members.
Many say the change was sorely needed. Now, it'll be easier to tell whether the service member is up to the standards of the U.S. Military, and they're safer during combat.
Fitness programs in the past focused almost entirely on physical performance, with little attention paid to mental health, nutrition, or injury prevention. Programs were standardized for everyone, with no special considerations for age, gender, or individual needs.
- Men & Women: Programs were the same for all service members.
- Age: Older service members often struggled with the same programs designed for younger individuals.
It obviously left gaps in addressing the broader health and well-being of service members. Some say this older method of wellness could seriously impact not just them, but the service members around them.
Now, programs like the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system take a more comprehensive approach to fitness. These programs focus on physical, mental, and nutritional health, as well as injury prevention and recovery.
- Men & Women: Programs are inclusive and designed to support everyone equally.
- Age: Adjustments are made to ensure service members of all ages can participate.
he goal is to optimize individual performance while preventing injuries and improving overall well-being. This shift reflects a broader understanding of what it means to be “fit” in the modern military.
In the past, most fitness tests were the same for everyone, with only a few combat-specific assessments.
- Men: Often had higher physical benchmarks for combat tasks.
- Women: Had lower requirements, which sometimes excluded them from certain combat roles.
- Age: Adjustments for age were rare in combat-specific tests.
While non-combat roles may not face the same tasks as combat roles, you never know what you might experience in another country during wartime. At least, that's what some criticized.
Now, combat-specific fitness tests are designed to simulate real battlefield conditions. These tests are gender-neutral for combat roles, meaning everyone has to meet the same requirements.
- Men & Women: Same standards for combat roles, ensuring fairness.
- Age: Adjustments remain less common for combat-specific tests.
Some of the tasks can be pretty hard, like dragging a teammate, carrying heavy loads, and sprinting under pressure. The updates will be rough, but they're supposed to make things better all around.
Readiness and resilience are important for the military. What it means is that the forces are supposed to meet the demands of specific tasks. It isn't always about running and lifting heavy things, but sometimes it's about adapting to new technology or a huge shift in situation at a moment's notice.
- Men & Women: Programs were the same for everyone, with no gender-specific considerations.
- Age: Older service members often struggled with the same programs designed for younger individuals.
It was then brought up that programs didn’t always prepare service members for the actual challenges they may face. There wasn’t much emphasis on building long-term resilience or addressing mental health, which could impact overall performance and retention.
Now, there’s a greater focus on building a strong, mission-ready force that will adapt to anything and everything. Programs are designed to prepare service members for the challenges of modern warfare, both physically and mentally.
- Men & Women: Programs are inclusive and designed to support everyone equally.
- Age: Adjustments are made to ensure service members of all ages can maintain readiness.
Programs like the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system include mental health support, injury prevention, and recovery plans. This shift ensures that service members are not only fit but also resilient and ready to face the demands they may face.
