Washington, D.C. — April 22, 2026 — The United States Army has officially implemented the Combat Field Test (CFT), a comprehensive new physical fitness assessment designed to better prepare soldiers for the physical demands of modern combat operations. This initiative represents a significant evolution in the Army’s physical readiness program, focusing on mission-specific capabilities to improve overall lethality and operational effectiveness.
The CFT is required annually for active-duty soldiers serving in 24 designated combat military occupational specialties (MOS), including infantry, armor, combat engineers, field artillery, special forces, and explosive ordnance disposal roles. It applies to soldiers in the Regular Army, Active Guard Reserve, and Reserve Component personnel on active-duty orders for 365 days or more. Reserve Component soldiers in these specialties who are not on extended active duty will alternate between the CFT and the existing Army Fitness Test (AFT) on an annual basis.
Importantly, the CFT does not replace the AFT, which remains the service’s primary physical fitness test of record. Instead, eligible combat specialty soldiers will now complete both assessments each year to ensure a balanced evaluation of general fitness and combat-specific performance.
The CFT consists of a continuous, seven-event sequence performed without rest periods and scored solely on total completion time. Soldiers must finish the entire test in 30 minutes or less while wearing the Army Combat Uniform, combat boots, and a brown T-shirt, with no head cover. The events, conducted in sequence, are as follows:
- A one-mile run.
- 30 dead-stop push-ups.
- A 100-meter sprint.
- 16 lifts of a 40-pound sandbag onto a 65-inch platform.
- A 50-meter carry of two five-gallon Army water cans, each weighing 40 pounds.
- A 50-meter movement drill comprising a 25-meter high crawl followed by a 25-meter 3- to 5-second rush.
- A final one-mile run.
The assessment is graded on a strict pass/fail basis and is intentionally age- and sex-neutral, establishing a single, mission-based standard aligned with the realities of close combat. This approach ensures that all soldiers in designated combat roles meet identical performance criteria regardless of demographic factors.
Secretary of the Army the Honorable Dan Driscoll emphasized the strategic importance of the new test. “The Combat Field Test is a critical step forward in ensuring our Soldiers serving in the most physically demanding specialties have the specific fitness required to dominate on the modern battlefield,” he stated. “This is about readiness, lethality, and the well-being of our Soldiers.”
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer reinforced this perspective, noting, “This isn’t just about passing a test; it’s a direct measure of our commitment to readiness and ensuring our warfighters can dominate in any environment. We’re asking more of our combat arms Soldiers, and this test validates their ability to meet that high standard.”
Implementation of the CFT begins immediately in April 2026 with a phased rollout. Diagnostic testing for soldiers in the designated MOS commenced on April 17, 2026. A 365-day grace period follows, during which no adverse administrative actions will be taken for failure to meet the standard. This diagnostic phase allows soldiers time to adapt and, if necessary, request voluntary reclassification to a non-combat specialty. Full enforcement, including potential administrative consequences for failure, will take effect on April 17, 2027.
The Army has committed substantial resources to support soldiers in preparing for the CFT. These include command-led physical training programs, Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) initiatives, and a dedicated microsite on the Army Fitness Test website providing detailed guidance and resources. Permanent profiles that prevent participation in AFT events render soldiers ineligible for the CFT, potentially leading to reassignment considerations, while temporary profiles will be managed according to existing Army Techniques Publication 7-22.01 guidelines.
The CFT draws from established field fitness protocols previously used in expert badge programs, such as the Expert Infantryman Badge, and is formalized under Army Directive 2026-07 and related publications. By integrating combat-relevant tasks—such as sandbag lifts, water can carries, and tactical movement drills—the test directly simulates operational demands, reinforcing the warrior ethos and ensuring soldiers maintain peak physical condition for high-intensity missions.
This announcement underscores the Army’s ongoing commitment to evolving its training and evaluation methods in response to contemporary threats. As global security challenges intensify, the CFT positions the force to maintain a decisive edge through enhanced individual and collective readiness.
For additional information, including full event standards and training resources, soldiers and interested parties are directed to the official Army Fitness Test website at army.mil/aft. Further details are available in Army Directive 2026-07.
