The US Army enforces physical fitness standards through the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), which soldiers must take at least twice a year. The test consists of a 2-mile run, push-ups, and squats, with minimum requirements based on age and sex. Soldiers who fail the test have three months to meet the standards or face consequences. Passing the APFT earns promotion points and a Physical Fitness Badge.
The Army Fitness Standards are a set of physical fitness standards determined by the United States Army that all soldiers must meet and maintain while on active duty. To determine a soldier’s level of endurance and cardiovascular fitness, the US Army administers the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) at least twice a year and all soldiers must participate. National Guard members take the APFT annually instead of twice a year.
If an examinee fails all or part of the APFT, they are given three months to meet current Army fitness standards upon passing the exam and are denied the possibility of promotion, enlistment extension, and reenlistment. Administration of the APFT is outlined in an Army field manual, in addition to personal and unit physical training exercises, and an alternative exam is offered to those with physical conditions that prevent them from participating in the standard APFT.
Army physical fitness standards are determined by the soldier’s age and sex as detailed in the APFT score tables. The APFT consists of three fitness challenges: a 2-mile run and two minutes of squats and pushups. Before beginning, the Army Physical Fitness Standards for each event are read aloud, and the correct form of each exercise is demonstrated by a Soldier who is not taking the exam or who is a qualifier. Test takers have two minutes to complete as many squats as possible followed by an additional two minutes for pushups. Walking is not recommended during the 2-mile timed run, and a soldier is disqualified if they receive physical assistance or leave the designated course.
The minimum number of squats and pushups a soldier is expected to complete in each two-minute event is determined by the sex and age of the examinee. For example, a man between the ages of 17 and 21 must perform at least 42 push-ups and a minimum of 53 sit-ups in two minutes. A woman over the age of 62 must complete at least seven push-ups and 26 sit-ups. Acceptable time ranges for the 2-mile run also vary by age and gender. A 32- to 36-year-old female soldier must run 2 miles in less than 22 minutes, while a soldier of the same age must finish in less than 18 minutes.
Each APFT event is scored out of 100 points and a passing total is 180 points or more or at least 60 points in each category. The minimum score is slightly lower for new recruits during Initial Entry Training. Soldiers who score at least 90 points in each of the three APFT events are awarded a Physical Fitness Badge which is worn on the training uniform. By taking the APFT exam, test takers also earn promotion points that contribute to their eligibility for promotion. Army fitness standards help ensure that soldiers are physically capable of fighting and performing other tasks.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
