The US Army has introduced a sweeping overhaul of its gender-based combat fitness standards, now requiring female soldiers to meet the same physical benchmarks as their male counterparts.
The newly revamped Army Fitness Test (AFT), formerly known as the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), imposes identical physical standards for men and women across all combat roles.
It includes five events: a three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up with arm extension, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and a two-mile (3.2 kilometers) run.
Under the new policy, soldiers in 21 combat specialties must score at least 60 points per event and achieve a total score of at least 350, regardless of gender.
“The five-event AFT is designed to enhance soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force,” the service stated.
Phased implementation of the AFT will begin on June 1.
A Tougher Path for Women
The policy effectively grades female soldiers on the same scale as men — a move expected to significantly reduce the number of women who qualify for combat roles.
For instance, women aged 17 to 21 will now be required to deadlift at least 140 pounds (63 kilograms), up from the previous 120-pound (54-kilogram) minimum.
Similarly, the two-mile run must be completed in 22 minutes, a tightening from the previous requirement of 23 minutes and 22 seconds.
This shift has raised concerns among experts and advocates, as a 2022 RAND Corporation study found women were already failing the ACFT at “significantly higher rates” than men, even when gender-based scoring was in place.
It also contradicts findings from a 2017 army-commissioned study, which advised accounting for physiological differences in training rather than applying uniform physical standards.
The AFT will be administered twice annually for active-duty personnel and once annually for National Guard and Reserve soldiers.
Service members who fail the test twice consecutively will be reassigned to non-combat roles or face discharge from the army.
