The phased implementation of the new test will begin on June 1, and on January 1, 2026, new scoring standards for 21 combat military occupational specialties will take effect for the active component. However, the Reserve and National Guard will have their new scoring standard take effect on June 1, 2026.

In a move aimed at strengthening Soldier readiness and increasing the lethality of the force, the U.S. Army today announced the establishment of the Army Fitness Test (AFT) as its new official physical fitness test of record. This updated assessment will replace the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). The AFT, a five-event evaluation, is strategically designed to enhance the overall fitness of Soldiers, directly contributing to improved warfighting capabilities.

The new test — based on "18 months of data analysis and feedback from thousands of test iterations" — will introduce updated scoring standards that emphasize "readiness and combat effectiveness," according to an Army press release. Soldiers will have until Jan. 1, 2026, to meet the new AFT requirements without facing "adverse actions."

The Army has approved a series of revisions to its physical fitness test. The move reflects mounting internal and political pressure over how the military measures fitness. The new Army Fitness Test, or AFT, will take effect in June. It follows a congressional mandate aimed at raising baseline requirements for combat-specific occupations.

The Army released new score cards Friday that lay out the requirements of the new ‘sex-neutral’ standards announced last month. All soldiers can expect to do more push-ups, and women in combat jobs will have to pick up the pace in a two-mile run as much as three minutes faster.