Tweaks to Army's Physical Fitness Test Are Relatively Modest
The Army has approved a series of revisions to its physical fitness test, recalibrating performance benchmarks in a modest and symbolic move that reflects mounting internal and political pressure over how the military measures fitness. What began as an initiative to introduce gender-neutral standards for combat arms roles has gradually evolved into a servicewide adjustment. […]
Army Aims New Fitness Test for June But Is Still Working on How to Grade It
The Army has outlined its new fitness test set to debut in June, but key details surrounding the rollout — including scoring criteria and enhanced standards for combat troops — remain unsettled just weeks ahead of implementation. The specifics still being ironed out behind the scenes include the Army’s plans to adjust how events are […]
New Army Fitness Test: No More Ball Yeet, Higher Standards for Combat Arms
The Army is set to make sweeping changes to its fitness test, according to an internal memo obtained by Military.com. The overhaul includes a rebranding of the test, the elimination of its most criticized event, and the introduction of new performance standards for soldiers in combat roles. First, the test will no longer be the […]
Military Review of Fitness Standards Will Find Array of Tests, But Higher Requirements for Combat
WASHINGTON (AP) — The defense secretary’s decision to review military standards on combat and physical fitness and appearance opens a Pandora’s box of widely differing rules among the services. And it will raise a crucial question: Should there be a cookie-cutter approach, or should service differences, evolving social norms and recruiting realities play a role […]
Ranger School Is Getting a New Fitness Assessment
The Army’s elite Ranger School, long regarded as one of the most grueling leadership courses in the military, is rolling out a new physical fitness assessment designed to better measure the endurance and strength required to complete the course. The revised standards will debut with Ranger School class 06-25, beginning April 21, marking the culmination […]
The Army's Fitness Standards May Shift in 2025. But How Much Tougher Will They Be?
The Army is poised to recalibrate its fitness standards, redefining the physical expectations for combat-arms roles in 2025. Yet, where those minimum requirements will ultimately land remains an open question — one that could present an early test for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Army leadership. The proposed changes stem from a congressionally mandated study conducted […]
Army Says Soldiers Are Getting New Fitness Uniforms, But Details Are Scant
It’s a mistress the Army can’t keep itself from continually returning to: uniform changes. Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, the service’s top enlisted leader, on Tuesday announced new physical training uniforms will be issued to troops in roughly a year. But the announcement at the Association of the United States Army, or AUSA, […]
Army Quickly Expanding Holistic Health and Fitness Teams Following Promising Early Results
The Army is fast-tracking the expansion of its Holistic Health and Fitness, or H2F, program as early results show soldiers in brigades recover faster, shoot better and have higher performance on critical fitness tests with the assistance. The service began fielding roughly 20-person H2F teams to brigades in 2021, providing 28 brigades with coaches and […]
Congress Tells Army to Set Higher Fitness Standards for Combat Arms Soldiers
Congress is set to direct the Army to boost fitness standards for most combat-arms jobs through a compromise defense policy bill unveiled Wednesday. The must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which sets funding and policy priorities for the Pentagon, directs the service to increase the baseline standards in the Army Combat Fitness Test, or […]
Secretary Wormuth Wants the Army Combat Fitness Test to Stay as Congress Debates Its Fate
As the Army tangles with Congress over the fate of the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, the service’s top civilian leader says it needs to stay. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth took a stand for the test in an exclusive interview with Military.com on Wednesday at the annual Association of the United States Army conference […]