Fitness Testing
Fitness Testing > Groups > Forces Fitness > Army > Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT)
Army Physical Fitness Test
The Army Physical Fitness Test is designed to test muscular strength/endurance and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of soldiers in the US Army. Army personnel are required to perform the APFT every 6 months, unless there is an injury or other reason they cannot partake in their testing. The APFT ensures that they are keeping themselves physically fit and in a state of physical readiness. There are three tests that make up the testing battery for the APFT:
Alternatives
If a soldier has a permanent medical condition that keeps them from conducting the 2 mile run, an alternate event (2.5 mile walk, 800 yd swim, or 6.2 mile bike) is taken. There is no alternative for the other two tests.
Assessment
The soldiers are given a score based on their performance in the three test. The scoring scale is based on sex, age and performance for the event. The scores normally range from 0 to 300. In order to pass the APFT, a total score for the three events of 180 or higher is required, with a minimum score of 60 in each event. Soldiers who score 270 or above, with a minimum score of 90 in each event, are awarded the Physical Fitness Badge, which can be worn on the PT uniform. The APFT score also converts to promotion points which are used to determine the eligibility of soldiers for promotion to the ranks of Sergeants and Staff Sergeants.
Failure to pass consecutive APFTs can ultimately lead to discharge from the US Army, though not always. They may be put into a remedial program of extra PT sessions.
More Information
For the most up to date information, you should consult the Army Field Manual FM 21-20, which covers all the details about the administering of the APFT.
Related Pages
- Army Fitness Testing around the world
- Testing in other armed forces and similar services
- poll: Should women have the same fitness testing standards as men?
- Descriptions of the three APFT test procedures: sit up, push up and 2-mile run.
- videos of forces fitness testing
