Army Fitness Test Updates & Policy Changes (2026)

What Is the Combat Field Test (CFT)?

The Combat Field Test is a new Army fitness requirement established by Army Directive 2026-07, signed by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll on April 17, 2026. It is a pass/fail test — there are no points — and it is scored on total time. Soldiers move through all seven events back to back, and the result is the cumulative time. The standard is 30 minutes or less, the same for every Soldier regardless of age or sex. The CFT does not replace the Army Fitness Test; it is an additional test for Soldiers in the 24 designated combat specialties.

The CFT measures a fitness profile that the AFT does not fully capture: continuous work capacity under load, the ability to sprint between stations while carrying equipment, and the stamina to run on fatigued legs. The seven events simulate the physical demands of combat — moving under fire, carrying casualties, and operating equipment while exhausted. Because it is pass/fail rather than scored, the CFT rewards consistency over peak performance: a Soldier who can finish all seven events in 30 minutes has met the standard, regardless of how fast individual stations are completed. For the current five-event test standards, see the current AFT standards.

The 7 CFT Events, in Order

The seven events are performed continuously in sequence and scored on total time:

• 1-mile run — the test opens with a full-pace mile that starts the clock.
• 30 dead-stop push-ups — each rep starts from a dead stop at the bottom, not a bouncing motion.
• 100-meter sprint — a maximal-effort sprint on already-fatigued legs.
• 16 sandbag lifts — a 40-pound sandbag lifted onto a 65-inch platform sixteen times.
• 50-meter water can carry — two 5-gallon Army water cans, about 40 pounds each, carried 50 meters.
• 50-meter movement drill — a 25-meter high crawl followed by a 25-meter 3-5 second rush.
• Second 1-mile run — a closing mile on tired legs before the clock stops.

All seven events must be completed in sequence within the 30-minute standard.

CFT Standard and Uniform

The official CFT standard is 30 minutes or less for all seven events, published in HQDA EXORD 103-26 on April 22, 2026. The standard is the same for every Soldier regardless of age or sex. Soldiers take the CFT in the Army Combat Uniform (top and bottom), a brown t-shirt, and combat boots, with no headgear. Every event must be finished in order before the next one starts.

Who Has to Take the CFT

The CFT applies to Soldiers in 24 combat specialties listed in Enclosure 2 of Army Directive 2026-07. The list covers infantry, armor, field artillery, Special Forces, combat engineers, Army divers, and explosive ordnance disposal roles. Three roles were newly designated as combat specialties by this directive: 12D (Army Diver), 89D (EOD Specialist), and 89E (EOD Officer). Regular Army, AGR, and Reserve Component Soldiers on active-duty orders for 365 days or more take one CFT and one AFT per year, with at least four months between record tests. Other Reserve Component Soldiers in combat specialties take one test per year, alternating between the AFT and CFT. The AFT record-test program this CFT complements is on the Army Fitness Test overview.

CFT vs AFT: What's Different

The AFT and CFT measure different things and use different pass criteria. The AFT applies to all Soldiers, has five events each scored 0-100 (500 max), and requires 60 points per event with 300 points total for the general standard, or 350 points total for designated combat specialties. The CFT applies to the 24 combat specialties only: seven events run as one continuous sequence, with all seven completed in 30 minutes or less — and if a Soldier is unable to complete any individual event, the test is terminated and recorded as a failure. The AFT is taken in the physical training uniform; the CFT is taken in the ACU with boots and no headgear.

What Happens If You Fail the CFT

During the current one-year implementation period (April 17, 2026 through April 16, 2027), a CFT failure does not by itself result in adverse administrative action. No Soldier is flagged, reclassified, or separated solely for a failed CFT during the diagnostic period.

After full implementation begins on April 17, 2027, a failed record CFT is subject to the applicable administrative procedures, including flagging, reconditioning training, and retesting — 90 days for Regular Army, AGR, and Soldiers on active-duty orders for 365 days or more, or 180 days for other Reserve Component Soldiers. A failed retest can trigger reclassification or utilization actions. Two consecutive CFT failures may also lead to separation for enlisted Soldiers or elimination for officers under the applicable Army regulations.

What These Changes Mean for Your Training

The CFT rewards a different fitness profile than the AFT: continuous work capacity, loaded carries, and the ability to run on fatigued legs. If you are in a combat specialty, add CFT-specific work to your army fitness test training plan — back-to-back loaded carries, sandbag lifts, and interval runs with short recoveries. The army fitness test tips guide covers the AFT events; the training plan page builds the weekly schedule. For body composition, the WHtR standard is less than 0.55 — check your number with the army waist to height ratio calculator. Prepare for the new requirements with an AFT training plan.