What is the Army Combat Fitness Test?
The Army approved a new physical fitness test – Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) – for all Active duty, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers that is highly correlated with combat readiness. The Army will execute the test through U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training (USACIMT).
This new physical fitness test will strengthen unit and collective readiness and provide the nation with physically fit Soldiers of unmatched lethality to deploy, fight and win decisively on any future battlefield.
The test will improve movement lethality, transform the Army's physical fitness culture, reduce preventable injuries and associated attrition, and enhance Soldier mental toughness and stamina.
How is it different?
Related work on the ACFT started in 2013 with an empirical study of high physical demand for common Soldier tasks. Extensive scientific research by U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) and USACIMT validated specific physical fitness test events that measure all components of fitness relative to the physical requirements of combat. Those components are muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, speed, aerobic endurance and agility.
Independent pilot testing in FORSCOM and TRADOC took place from 2017 to 2018. The Army used the pilot tests to validate the order and direction for the individual events to ensure the ACFT can be used across the entire Army.
The TRADOC version of the test during the pilot was originally known as the Army Combat Readiness Test during its development.
Where can I learn more?
The Army has developed a
website dedicated to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) 
where you can learn about the implementation period, how to train for each test event, and find additional resources.
