Understanding the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT): Your Guide to Success and Career Advancement
Are you ready to elevate your military career and demonstrate peak performance? Whether you're a new recruit entering Basic Training, an experienced soldier aiming for promotion, or a military leader responsible for troop readiness, mastering the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is critical. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore what the ACFT is, why it matters, and how excelling on it can significantly boost your Army career.
What Exactly is the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT)?
The Army Combat Fitness Test, better known as the ACFT, is the official physical fitness assessment tool for soldiers in the United States Army. Replacing the older Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), the ACFT provides a modern, comprehensive evaluation designed to measure soldiers' physical readiness for real-world combat scenarios. It's part of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System, promoting a broader, more inclusive approach to soldier wellness.
Unlike previous fitness tests, the ACFT incorporates gender- and age-normed scoring scales, ensuring fairness and appropriate benchmarks across diverse demographics.
Why Every Soldier Should Care About the ACFT
The ACFT isn't just another routine physical fitness test—it's a powerful indicator that directly influences your military career trajectory. Here's how:
Promotions & Career Growth
Scoring high on the ACFT can make the difference between advancing in rank or staying stagnant. A competitive score demonstrates your dedication, physical capability, and readiness, placing you ahead of your peers during evaluations and promotions.
Entry into Military Schools
Prestigious Army schools and specialty training programs, such as Ranger School, Airborne School, or Officer Candidate School (OCS), often require minimum ACFT scores. Performing well helps secure your eligibility and can set you apart in competitive selection processes.
Preferred Unit Assignments
Units with critical missions, such as Special Forces or rapid-response deployments, seek soldiers demonstrating high physical readiness. Achieving excellent ACFT scores showcases your suitability for demanding operational roles and can position you for elite assignments.
Ensuring Real-World Combat Readiness
The ACFT is intentionally designed around battlefield scenarios, emphasizing functional fitness, injury prevention, and stamina. This holistic approach ensures you are physically prepared for the rigorous demands of combat operations and challenging missions.
Building Mental Toughness & Resilience
Physical resilience contributes significantly to mental and emotional strength. Regularly preparing for and successfully completing the ACFT cultivates discipline, self-confidence, and perseverance—all critical attributes for military excellence.
Frequency of ACFT Testing: How Often and When to Expect it
- Regular Army & Active Guard Reserve Soldiers: Conduct two official ACFTs annually, spaced at least four months apart.
- Reserve Component Soldiers: Participate in one official ACFT per year, spaced a minimum of eight months apart.
The ACFT is initially administered during Basic Training and Officer Training, but your commander can also schedule it at any time, reinforcing the importance of continuous readiness and preparation.
The ACFT: Breaking Down the Six Events to Dominate
To ace the ACFT, you must thoroughly understand each event, train specifically for it, and learn how each impacts your overall score. Let's break down the six key events of the Army Combat Fitness Test:
1. Three-Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL)
- Equipment: 60-pound hex bar with plates.
- Purpose: Evaluates your lower-body power, core strength, and lifting technique—simulating combat tasks like moving equipment or carrying wounded teammates.
2. Standing Power Throw (SPT)
- Equipment: 10-pound medicine ball.
- Purpose: Measures explosive power generated from your legs and upper body, crucial for tactical movements requiring speed and force.
3. Hand-Release Push-Ups (HRP)
- Purpose: Assesses your upper-body muscular endurance and core stability, testing your ability to maintain performance during physically strenuous tasks.
4. Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC)
- Equipment: 2 x 40-pound kettlebells, 90-pound sled.
- Purpose: Measures speed, agility, endurance, and explosive strength, replicating high-intensity battlefield tasks like dragging supplies, maneuvering under fire, or evacuating casualties.
5. Plank
- Purpose: Evaluates core muscular endurance and stability, an essential factor in reducing injury and enhancing overall physical resilience during prolonged physical exertion.
6. Two-Mile Run
- Purpose: Tests cardiovascular stamina and aerobic endurance. Consistent training and pacing strategies are key to excelling in this event and meeting the required time standards.
ACFT Scoring & Standards: Know Where You Stand
Scoring on each ACFT event ranges from 0–100 points, creating a maximum possible score of 600 points. To successfully pass, soldiers must achieve at least 60 points in each event, totaling a minimum of 360 points overall. The scoring is tailored according to age and gender, ensuring fairness and consistent standards across the force.
Failure isn't an option—but it's not the end, either. Soldiers not passing the ACFT are provided remediation opportunities. However, repeated failures (two consecutive official record ACFTs) could result in administrative action, potentially leading to involuntary separation from the Army.
Practical Tips for ACFT Preparation and Improvement
- Consistent Training: Incorporate functional fitness workouts targeting specific ACFT events into your regular routine.
- Proper Nutrition & Hydration: Optimal fueling is critical—prioritize balanced meals and adequate hydration to maximize performance.
- Strategic Rest & Recovery: Ensure sufficient rest days and adequate sleep, allowing your body to repair and strengthen.
- Professional Guidance: Utilize Army resources, physical training leaders, and specialized fitness apps like The ACFT App to structure your training effectively and measure your progress regularly.
Conclusion: Stay Combat-Ready & Accelerate Your Army Career
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is more than a fitness assessment—it's a strategic tool essential for your military career advancement, overall health, and combat effectiveness. Your commitment to excelling on this test can unlock opportunities for promotions, specialized training, and critical roles within the Army.
Start preparing today. Download The ACFT App to access personalized workout plans, progress tracking, and resources designed specifically for soldiers striving for excellence. Show your dedication, build your career, and become an elite soldier ready to face any challenge.
Stay Ready. Stay Strong. Excel in the ACFT.
If you want more information about the ACFT and to track your progress overtime, download The ACFT App. Its available on iOS and Android.
References
- U.S. Army. (n.d.). Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). U.S. Army. https://www.army.mil/
- U.S. Army. (n.d.). Fitness requirements. U.S. Army. https://www.goarmy.com/how-to-join/requirements/fitness