On June 1, 2025, the U.S. Army officially renamed the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to the Army Fitness Test (AFT). While the name change signals a philosophical shift, the differences go much deeper. Here's everything you need to know.
Event Changes
The most significant structural change is the removal of one event. The ACFT had six events; the AFT has five.
Removed: Standing Power Throw (SPT)
The SPT was cut for two reasons:
- Technical complexity: The SPT required significant coaching to execute correctly, making standardized scoring across units difficult.
- Injury risk: The ballistic overhead throw motion caused a disproportionate number of shoulder injuries during testing cycles.
The remaining five events — MDL, HRP, SDC, PLK, and 2MR — were retained without modification to their execution standards.
Scoring Changes
| Metric | ACFT | AFT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Events | 6 | 5 |
| Max Score | 600 | 500 |
| General MOS Min Score | 360 | 300 |
| Combat MOS Min Score | 360 | 350 |
| Min Per Event (General) | 60 | 60 |
| Min Per Event (Combat) | 60 | 60 |
Gender Standards for Combat MOS
One of the most significant policy changes: soldiers in 21 designated combat MOS are now held to gender-neutral physical standards. Previously, performance was measured against gender-specific benchmarks. Now, both male and female soldiers in combat roles must hit the same performance marks.
This affects 21 MOS categories, including all 11-series (Infantry), 18-series (Special Forces), and select armor and engineer roles.
Implementation Timeline
- June 1, 2025: AFT officially replaces ACFT for all Active Duty.
- January 1, 2026: Active Duty performance standards fully enforced.
- June 1, 2026: Reserve Component and National Guard standards apply.
What Stayed the Same
Most event standards, scoring tables, and execution rules carried over directly from the ACFT. If you were training for the ACFT, you're already 80% prepared for the AFT. The key adjustment is the absence of the SPT and the updated minimum scores.
Use our AFT Calculator to get an instant read on where your current numbers land under the new 2025 standards.
Col. (Ret.) Diana Torres
Army Standards Analyst
A subject matter expert contributing to AFT Calculators to help soldiers better understand the Army Fitness Test and achieve peak readiness.