“Army Strong” is greater than only a tagline — for troopers, it’s a requirement for responsibility.
The U.S. Military requires that each one active-duty troopers show their bodily prowess by passing a rigorous health check. There have been a number of variations of the check through the years — and the Military just lately introduced {that a} new model has been adopted.
On June 1, 2025, the navy department will roll out its new Military Health Check (ACFT) as a alternative for the present Military Fight Health Check (ACFT).
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The brand new check — which relies on “18 months of data analysis and feedback from thousands of test iterations” — will introduce up to date scoring requirements that emphasize “readiness and combat effectiveness,” in keeping with an Military press launch.
Troopers can have till Jan. 1, 2026, to satisfy the brand new AFT necessities with out going through “adverse actions.”
The U.S. Military requires that each one active-duty troopers show their bodily prowess by passing a rigorous health check. (iStock)
AFT scores are recorded throughout primary coaching for troopers and preliminary coaching for officers, the Military states on its web site.
Lively-duty troopers are required to finish the check twice a yr, whereas troopers within the Military Reserve and Military Nationwide Guard should document scores every year.
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“The AFT is designed to enhance soldier readiness and guarantee bodily requirements [and] put together troopers for the calls for of contemporary warfare,” mentioned Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax, senior enlisted chief, deputy chief of workers for Operations, Military Headquarters, within the launch.
“It emphasizes holistic fitness over event-specific training and is grounded in performance.”
Recruits endure bodily coaching within the coaching middle of The Third Separate Assault Brigade on September 14, 2024, in Dnipro, Ukraine. (Getty Photos)
Scoring necessities are extra demanding for the brand new check, with troopers in fight roles held to the very best requirements.
“Combat standards are sex-neutral for the 21 direct combat roles, a change designed to ensure fairness and operational readiness,” the discharge states.
5 parts of the check
The AFT consists of the next 5 occasions, as described on the Military’s web site.
1. Three-repetition most deadlift
On this problem, the soldier should raise the utmost weight doable 3 times utilizing a 60-pound hex bar and plates.
This transfer assesses muscular energy, steadiness and adaptability.
“It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training.”
“Deadlifts require a person to recruit glute and hamstring strength in order to lift a barbell off the ground to waist height,” mentioned Miles Hill, an authorized private coach and boxing teacher at Rumble in New York Metropolis. “It is the most effective technique for picking heavy weights off the ground.”
The deadlift can be harmful for civilians in the event that they use improper type, warned Dr. Hooman Melamed, an orthopedic backbone surgeon and sport drugs professional from Beverly Hills.
Military troopers should full a timed two-mile run on a flat out of doors course in a check of cardio endurance. (iStock)
“If your posture or form is off, the risk to your lower back and hips is high — it could be a career-ending injury for some,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.
2. Hand-release push-up
The soldier should full as many hand-release push-ups as doable in two minutes, utilizing correct method.
“Hand release push-ups require a person to drop all the way to the ground, lift their hands in the air for a second, and then push themselves back up to high plank,” mentioned Hill, who can be a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
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Melamed famous that whereas hand-release push-ups are nice for constructing higher physique energy, if the individual is just not already sturdy, the sudden power can harm the shoulders.
The hand-release push-up checks muscular endurance and adaptability.
3. Dash-drag-carry
With the sprint-drag-carry (SDC), the soldier is tasked with finishing 5 50-meter shuttles (dash, drag, lateral, carry, dash) as rapidly as doable, utilizing two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled.
“The sprint-drag-carry is probably the toughest sequence here, since it requires explosive strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance,” Hill mentioned.
“Combat standards are sex-neutral for the 21 direct combat roles, a change designed to ensure fairness and operational readiness,” the Military’s launch states. (Cecilie_Arcurs)
Melamed calls the SDC a “brutal test of speed and explosive power.”
“If you’re not conditioned, tearing a hamstring or pulling something mid-run can happen,” he mentioned.
4. Plank
The soldier should keep a correct plank place for so long as doable, testing muscular endurance and steadiness.
“A plank is an final check of core energy and endurance, because it requires an individual to carry their physique weight for so long as they will,” mentioned Hill. “It can be challenging, but it is the time requirement that determines the challenge.”
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Melamed famous that whereas this transfer appears to be like easy, holding a correct plank for time is extraordinarily difficult. “It exposes weaknesses in the back, core and shoulder girdle.”
5. Two-mile run
The soldier should full a timed two-mile run on a flat out of doors course in a check of cardio endurance.
“Two-mile runs are relatively easy for any able-bodied human — however, the time constraints are what makes it challenging,” Hill mentioned.
With the sprint-drag-carry (SDC), the soldier is tasked with finishing 5 50-meter shuttles (dash, drag, lateral, carry, dash) as rapidly as doable, utilizing two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled. (iStock)
The standing energy throw occasion, which was a part of the earlier model of the check, is not included as a requirement.
“We eliminated the standing power throw because it wasn’t effectively promoting fitness and readiness as well as we would like,” Mullinax mentioned.
“Furthermore, it presented an elevated risk of overuse injury and encouraged soldiers to focus on technique rather than demonstrating true power.”
How powerful is it?
The toughness of a exercise or health check is relative to the general health of a person, in keeping with Dr. Jason Perry, M.D., major care sports activities drugs doctor with Baptist Well being Orthopedic Care in Deerfield Seaside, Florida.
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“Generally speaking, the AFT is challenging, but not impossible for the average person with a basic fitness foundation,” Perry, who’s unaffiliated with the Military, instructed Fox Information Digital.
“It’s designed to test full-body strength, muscular endurance, speed, agility and cardiovascular stamina — all elements essential for combat readiness, but also relevant to functional fitness for civilians.”
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In comparison with a typical gymnasium exercise, the AFT is extra demanding as a result of it combines completely different physical domains into one check, he mentioned.
“Compared to elite athletic training, it’s moderate — but not easy,” Perry added.
Within the three-repetition most deadliftIn this problem, the soldier should raise the utmost weight doable 3 times utilizing a 60-pound hex bar and plates. (iStock)
For civilians who frequently energy prepare, run or do purposeful exercises (like CrossFit or HIIT), this check is effectively inside attain, he mentioned.
For a civilian who workouts three to 4 instances every week, the AFT is “realistically achievable” with targeted coaching over an eight- to 12-week interval.
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“About 30 to 50% of healthy, recreationally active adults could likely pass it with little to moderate training,” he predicted. “Sedentary adults or those with chronic conditions would have a harder time and would likely need a focused eight- to 12-week (or possibly longer) conditioning plan to pass.”
Melamed wasn’t fairly as optimistic, estimating that lower than 5% of civilians may cross the AFT.
“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt.”
“These aren’t weekend-warrior workouts — this is military-level conditioning,” he instructed Fox Information Digital. “You have to work your way up to this level of intensity training.”
The professional additionally famous that there’s a psychological element to the check, however mentioned mindset alone isn’t sufficient.
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“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt,” he cautioned. “It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training. You have to work up to it gradually.”
“And this test is as much about strategy and recovery as it is about raw strength.”
