AFT Test Day & Retest Policy: What Happens If You Fail (2026)

The AFT Test Day Process

The Army Fitness Test is completed in order on the same day within a 120-minute test period. Soldiers begin with the max deadlift (MDL), followed by hand-release push-ups (HRP), sprint-drag-carry (SDC), plank (PLK), a 10-minute rest, and then the two-mile run (2MR). Each event must be completed before the next one starts, and the 120-minute clock includes preparation, all five events, and the rest period.

Before the test, Soldiers should warm up for 15+ minutes using the Preparation Drill and a few unloaded deadlifts. Know your goal weight and your target times before you step to the line. The Army recommends arriving early, checking equipment, and mentally reviewing each event's standards. The 10-minute rest between the plank and the two-mile run is a structured recovery — use it to hydrate, stretch, and reset mentally for the run. The event order and scoring context are on the AFT standards page.

Common Grader Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistakes that cost points on the AFT are form violations, not lack of strength. On the MDL, safety stops (knees together, hips above shoulders, rounding the back) terminate the attempt. On the HRP, a rep does not count if the chest, hips, or thighs do not touch together, or if the hands do not fully release. On the SDC, missing the 25-meter line touch costs 5-15 seconds per repeat.

The plank is the event with the most form-related terminations: sagging or piking hips, lifting a hand or foot, or knees touching the ground. The Army explicitly allows shaking — it means the muscles are at maximum recruitment. For the two-mile run, the most common mistake is going out too fast, which can cause a large drop in pace in the second half. Pace the first mile conservatively and use a 3-steps-in, 2-steps-out breathing rhythm.

What Counts as Failing the AFT

A Soldier fails the AFT if any event scores below 60 points or if the total falls below the required threshold. For the General standard, the total must be at least 300; for the Combat standard, the total must be at least 350. Even if four events are excellent, a single event below 60 results in a failure. The 60-point floor is absolute — a 350 total with one event at 55 is still a failure.

Under the AFT, you cannot fail just one event and still pass the test. Every event must meet the 60-point minimum, and the total must meet the General or Combat threshold. This means Soldiers should train all five events, not just their strengths. The army fitness test calculator shows your pass status after each scoring session.

A Soldier must attempt all AFT events even after failing an individual event — a below-60 score does not end the test. Every event must still be completed within the 120-minute test period.

There are no test event re-starts. Once an event is attempted, it cannot be redone or restarted — incorrectly performed repetitions are not counted, and the grader records the result as performed. A Soldier who wants to improve a weak event must train and retest on a later record AFT, not restart the event on test day.

What Happens After a Record AFT Failure

A failed record AFT triggers a flag under AR 600-8-2, which suspends favorable personnel actions including promotion and reenlistment. The flag remains in place until the Soldier passes a record AFT. Additionally, the failure is recorded in the Army's HR system, and the Soldier is enrolled in reconditioning training with a mandatory retest within the specified window.

During the transition period (effective June 1, 2025 through the implementation date), Soldiers who fail the AFT General Standard will not be flagged — exceptions to policy from HQDA G-1 and G-3 supersede AR 350-1 and AR 600-8-2 for this period. After full implementation, the standard flagging rules apply to all AFT failures. Use the gap analysis from your AFT score calculator to target the retest.

AFT Retest Policy

Active-duty, Active Guard Reserve (AGR), and Reserve Soldiers serving on qualifying active-duty orders must retest within 90 days of a failed record AFT. Other Reserve Component Soldiers generally have up to 180 days to retest. The retest is a record AFT, and the Soldier must be given time and resources to prepare — units are expected to support reconditioning training before the retest.

A diagnostic AFT does not count as a record and carries no consequences. Soldiers can take diagnostic tests as often as needed to gauge their fitness level, but only record AFTs are used for promotion, flagging, and fitness assessment purposes. The key difference is that a diagnostic result is not uploaded to the DTMS as a record of performance. A structured program for the retest window is on the AFT training plan page.

Diagnostic AFT vs Record AFT

A diagnostic AFT is a practice test that does not count as a record of performance. Soldiers can take diagnostic tests at any time to gauge their fitness level. A record AFT is the official test that counts for promotion, flagging, and fitness assessment. The results of a record AFT are uploaded to the DTMS and used for personnel actions.