ACFT 2024 | Harder Standards for Combat MOS 

Don’t see how anybody in the infantry wouldn’t want the standards to be higher. The infantry is supposed to be mentally able, and physically fit.

Why TF is congress or the Senate dictating physical fitness standards? Have the Army Generals lost their way and balls? I guess so. 🤦‍♂️

My issue with the APFT. I grew up as a 13B, from E1 to E7. We had guys that could score a 300 with no issue, those same guys couldn't pick up an artillery shell. On the flip side I had guys that couldn't run or do sit-ups, granted these guys were not in shape and could do better, but these guys could sling rounds constantly. When a fire mission comes down and we need rounds down range time now I'll take the big bubbas any day over the gazelles that are weak.

Harder ACFTs is the way to go. However, leaders do not give proper consequences to NCOs/Officers when they fail

Add 68w (medics) to the list, im tired of out of shape medics going to the line and fit medics stuck in the hospital just based on HRC's random sorting 👍

Personally as a former 12B that was in the Army for 10 years, I believe the PT standards should be equal all around, no matter the gender or Job, your in the Army and everyone should be held to the same standard. Back in 2016 when they started letting women into the 12B MOS we started getting some in our unit that simply could not do the job or keep up with the rest of us physically, and some got out on medical later from being broke down. Granted there were a few Amazons who did, but the majority seemed to be below 5.5ft and barely 120 pounds.

I'm old enough to remember when they had different scoring standards for different MOSes, and it was gender neutral. I'm pretty sure that congress made them stop that.

Actually this sounds like good middle-ground. I’m infantry and I actually hate it when others in my unit say they just want to pass…

I completely agree at least harder standards for combat arms. 10 hand release and a 21 minute 2 mile is just embarrassing. If you picked a combat arms and you’re satisfied with 10 pushups or feel you’re dying in a 21 minute 2 mile. I’m sorry you picked the wrong job.

Well at least the “go back to the APFT” narrative went out the window! 😂

In my opinion, if you’re in a combat MOS you should be able to pull off a 525 AT A MINIMUM on the ACFT.

In practice, it doesn't seem it will change things that much. A large number of Soldiers in non-combat MOSs will still want to achieve an ACFT score that is higher than the minimum standards for combat arms MOSs. Many Soldiers in combat arms MOSs will also always want to achieve a much higher ACFT score than the minimum standards.

Gritty Soldier post: Liked and commented.

I took my oath the day this article dropped and I couldn't be more excited about it. I feel like striving towards higher fitness goals should go for everyone. But as a 13F I'm excited to see what the new requirements will be!

I'm a 13A and am fine with raising the standards. Leaving 13B's out seems like a temporary oversight though. That's a physically demanding job for sure. I much prefer the ACFT.

i just think we should do a real combat test. full kit. sled drag, pulling a dummy from a hatch, running with ammo cans, pull over a wall, end with either a 400-600 yard sprint or bounding movement for 200 yards for time.

Appreciate the info, at this point just need to know what the events are so I can train the men to crush it

Thank you for being so informative.

Acft should be: deadlift, strict overhead press, rope climb to simulate a wall, half mile sprint, 200m farmers carry minimum 90lbs each hand then breakfast

the fact congress is writing up PT standards is wild

What are the parts of the current test? Started my Army days way back in 1977. At that time it was called the PT Test. It was stupid, there were four parts. A "crab crawl", sit ups, push ups, a obstacle run, a two mile run. A crab crawl started in a seated position. Lift your body on your hands and feet. You traveled 40 yards forward and 40 yards back to the starting point. During my second enlistment it was pushups, situps and a two mile run. All those older than 40 years old were excused. Mostly officers Colonel and above and E-8 and E-9. These ranks were administration type jobs in the Company, Battalion and Division levels. It's been close to 40 years since I left that Army crap. Now past that Social Security and Medicare & Medicare age. When I started the uniforms were OD Green fatigues. Just like on that movie called "Stripes." Back in the day of canned C-rations. If Uncle Sam needs me they better just drop me off at the museum. My military driver's record says I am authorized to drive the M-151a3 Jeep and a M-35, 2½ ton truck. I wouldn't know anything about a HUMMV. I was finishing my Infantry AIT at Ft Benning while living in those old WW-2 wooden barracks. Saw a demonstration of the Bradley IFV. There were two prototypes of the Bradley IFV. One had a M2, .50 cal machine gun. The other had a chain gun mounted. The chain gun was chosen. When I see all the modern Army stuff all I can say is WTF.

The ball throw is tough, and required a lot of technique. The sdc is athletic ability and grit. Push-ups aren’t bad if you have perfect form. Deadlift, and 2 mile is up to the soldier’s physical ability. 11b experience

I wish I could max, been trying for 6 months to get my run times down, 1 speed workout, 1 timed 5 mile and 1 zone 2 distance run a week with good diet and streching and still am mid 14:00 on the 2 miler LOL

Standards need to be higher across the board

0:04 mom, I'm on TV😂 And thank you for the 3 AM motivation😊

Are the promotion points still going to be worth the same if each MOS has different standards?

My $0.02 as a retired Naval Officer (Mustang), albeit with two sons in the Army is this: Scale the PT tests to correspond to the types of units: Combat Arms (CA) Combat Support (CS) Combat Service Support (CSS) Special Branches (Med/Chaplain/Lawyers) * ALL tests gender neutral KISS and “Bob’s your uncle!” 😀

I don't understand what's so wrong with the ACFT. It's much harder to max the ACFT than the APFT. And gender neutral definitely works as long as the training is consistent at getting them to the standard. But how hard is it to get a PHASE 2 slot for MFT?

the question is, is it based off of current standards and the return of a sort of Black Standard is in play? Or is there a different scale entirely in which its harder in general all around? I think the current grading scale is pretty good and would be curious to see what the grading criteria off that would be. Im not against making it harder in general as for ive been cruising in the 540-560 range pretty consistently for the past year with a couple off days in the plank. But completely new standards removing the things ive been working for 3 years to max to now only get an 80 or 70 in it would be demoralizing. The work would be put in again to achieve it, but at what point does constantly making it harder (mainly for males) every time it changes stop.

Keep yourself combat ready, and you will be good to go for the acft.

I think there should be gender neutral for combat arms MOS's. If the job is more physically demanding, that should reflect on the grading, for the non combat MOS, there should be Male and Female standards because who cares if a 42A can do more push-ups than their left and right? They should just have enough to stay in shape to perform their duties.

My only issue with the ACFT is the ball throw. It can give a false sense of fitness. For example, I had a Soldier who could score in the 530s for the ACFT, but couldn't pass an APFT and had issues with ABCP. He was clearly overweight and ran a 19 min 2 mile, but could almost max the ball throw, so he would score high.

It will be really messed up if they make you take different tests, one for combat arms and a different one for everyone else. Most all big army units down to company level have other MOS troops in their TO&E.

Can you post links to the resources you used during this video? I looked up ACFT 4.0 on Google and can't find the same information you're describing in your content.

I agree standards should be higher for combat arms and even those in direct support of combat arms or those who may be deployed to FOB’s as opposed to those held back in the rear. I also personally believe that it should be non gender specific, same job same fitness. We did have combat fitness test which included a forced march and combat arms must carry a ruck where as non combat arms was no pack in the same time. Just my opinion.

Bro 😎 the champ posted

I can do everything on the test except for run so hopefully by the end of bootcamp I can run 😅 I'm 31 and ship off in August. My MOS is 25B... I seen in the news that they were trying to lessen the standards for those that aren't in a combat MOS 😳

I read that the ACFT will be an additional testing method and would go back to APFT as it was in 2020

Excellent! Some good news about the US Army for a freaking change!

I wonder what this is going to do for dive (12D). Probably raise it and still make you take the DPFT right after it lol.

This is a Great idea!

You know I’m a 92G I know lost don’t like 92G but I wanted more fitness, hopefully this is all around. I would love to be more fit!!!

The ACFT is fine... From my foxhole I have a VERY accurate assessment of my Soldiers strengths and weaknesses. So, what's exactly the problem...? We messed up Afghanistan and Iraq, and it took us 15 years to adopt MultiCam; do we really need to mess up the ACFT too?

"Everybody Should be able to hit 550 on the ACFT" The bro vet with a legacy 200 on the APFT

This makes no sense. Hold all soldiers to the same standards no matter their mos. If combat arms soldiers take a harder fitness test will they get paid more? Every soldier needs to stay mentally and physically fit no matter their mos. And we've all seen that's not the case across the Army.

I think the Army Test should be exactly what the 2x per week (All Day Weekly Combat Fitness Training) should be for the 4 years in. Whole Day (Army Test, and standard Army Weekly Training, all done in one 10 hour day) On 1/8 meal stomach: •40 push-ups. •10 pull-ups. •20 sit-ups. •185lb. Weight drag, backwards 60 yards. •25-second plank. •35 push-ups. •100 yard dash in belt, vest, a full canteen, and a loaded NGSW, and 5 real-weight dummy hand grenades. •Return dash, dash-stop kneel, dash, stop-knee(6 times in return 100 yard dash). •Shoot 4 magazines from prone position. •Dig shallow trough-hole, lay down in (100 seconds rest). •Get out of trough and crawl-roll-crawl 100 yards. •Return dash 100 yards back. •Act as Runner with message 100 yards. •HandRadio in mortar coordinates for 5 adjustments behind cover. •Rush down trench 50 yards, throw 5 hand grenades down trench every 10 yards, reaching a dugout pit, shoot into, 4 magazines, and throw in one hand grenade. •Rush back trench 150 yards. •Walk march double time 1,000 yards to mimic fully re-supplying self with magazines and hand grenades. -end- (There should be no "running by itself" as a test). I think on a second day, there should be a second part to the Army Test, which is a 10-mile cross country terrain combat movement on foot, in 100-man Combat Team, made of five 20-man squads, with full 50-pounds of ammunition, grenades, rifle or assigned small arms issue, full canteen water and rations. I think the Combat MOS enlistment should be increased to a minimum of a 5 year enlistment with option to do one more last 5 year reenlistment, in a combat MOS. The initial bonus for 1st enlistment should be 35,000.00. If the Soldier serves another 5 years, a second additional bonus of 39,000.00 should be awarded. A silver Five Year Combat MOS Badge, and Medal should be awarded upon completion of five years in Combat MOS and a gold Ten Year Combat MOS Badge, and, Medal should be awarded, both irregardless of whether they go to Combat Theater or not. If the Soldier serves a 15-30 Year Career, they should be given options in Technologies MOS or other Specialty MOS. I do not think there should be a mix of gender in the ground infantry; I think it should comprise of all-men, or, all-women in a Unit (in any type of Combat MOS).

When does this take effect?

There was a guy I did the ACFT with a few months ago. I had to do it twice because I did it in BLC and later on with my unit. Maxxed out the plank twice in BLC and later on (Which was 3 and a half minutes I believe). This guy couldn't even go over 1 minunte in a plank. lmao like come on man.

Hot take: Any job where you could potentially find yourself in combat due to lowmanning or just by army timing should have to fall under this ACFT enhancement be that 92, 91, **68**, 31, anything aviation (that actually flies) series should fall under a higher standard cause when SHTF anyone and everyone needs to be confident in each other's ablity to drag a 200+LB adult with gear 100M through some bs terrain just as combat arms is expected to. If the powers that be make the ACFT gender neutral (which they won't) but raise the current standards the organization is gonna lose ALOT of the very few they already have cause certain people now have to catch up triple time while others just have to drag a lil faster and lift a lil heavier.

Hey brother, would you recommend your workout plans for someone who is fairly new to fitness altogether?

Isn’t the military struggling to recruit candidates as is?

13B definitely has to have a higher standard for acft especially when it comes to strength, it takes a toll on you if you can't lift heavy

Almost like there's a war on the horizon. Now that playing PC is over with 😏

What is the new update to this?

I'm curious, old NCO, you use to have to get a 290 or higher for an Excellent block on your NCOER. What would it be for the ACFT? Also what score would get you a "Not Bad" comment from Higher as suppose to your a" Shit Bird stop eating McDonalds" comment?

Maybe do APFT for non combat MOS and RPA for combat MOS

as an old 11B i definitely agree with increased standards for combat mos. Gender neutral is the way to go for combat imo

As somebody who's preparing for OCS, I was nervous that this would increase all elements of the ACFT, making a perfect score even harder to achieve. But seeing as though it's just raising the minimum, I think it's a good idea, especially since I just looked up the minimum passing scores lol

The sit-ups were choking me every time!!!!

Good.

Is there a clause in the ACFT that would be able to lower standards if there was a draft? I know it sounds crazy and I support higher standards for Cbt MOS. However, in the event of a draft, Cbt MOS's may lose a lot of trigger fingers. Additionally, just an idea but it would be great, in a blue sky world, if the education system could align the ACFT with school standards to, hopefully prepare the would be Cbt soldiers. Once again, blue sky thinking, just putting it out there LOL

Gritty, would you put your 100k viewers plague just above your left hand on the wall of your office, next to your medals? Just a suggestion.

I’m down but thought there talk about them going back to APFT? Can they land the plane on a decision? Damn.

Keep acft and just get better. Combat or not just get better

So much for equality

This makes me want to push myself harder and I’m not even infantry

I like how they are focused on the physical aspects of the Army. But where I believe we are falling short is the quality of Soldiers entering the service. We need to bring back higher standards and truly give Drills back the power they once had. In addition we need to hold NCOs to a very much higher standard. Our Army has been overtaken with very weak minded individuals and we are backtracking with standards in general. Maybe I’m just old school but in the regular army (as in not high speed MOS’s) there are far to many undisciplined Soldiers. Any thoughts on that or am I alone in my thinking?

Ok, looks like they just want to raise the minimums. Hopefully this won’t affect us much as we should be working to exceed the standard. Hopefully they don’t change the maximums too much, that ball throw is hard lol.

Me in supply at 5’9 250lbs already getting 550-560s ACFT scores lol

So GWOT II is coming? 😮

Is that a Delta patch in the back? Also just curious, are you SF? And thank you for your service.

3000 pages and still managed to exclude the important information

Man, the ACFT is so easy to pass. Like yeah, the ball throw is weird and the SDC is a smoker, but honestly it’s easy with the current standards. There’s no excuse for a healthy Infantry Soldier not scoring 80 or above in each event in their age bracket. The new EIB fitness event is a smoker though😮‍💨

Increase to what? I would like to mentally prepare myself!

QFTG: If combat specific, MOS require higher standards than non-combat related MOS. I believe that the combat soldiers should be compensated differently in that case.

Acft needs to be easy enough we’re more people will be willing to join most people wouldn’t even come close to passing the old standards but that’s just me

Join the Air Force dudes. #theend

Scrap the 2 mile run. Replace it with at least a 5k ruck.

I’m 11B currently and I’m always down for higher standards. If you’re in combat arms and can’t do a 540 with no prep you aren’t working hard enough.

I really hope they don’t get rid of the ACFT this one actually makes sense and is fun.

The requirements for SF is already 570. That's no joke. Tom Cotten has not taken an ACFT and doesn't know what he's talking about.

Increase standards across every MOS

4:48 what a joke, the officers don't do shit anyways 🤣 It's the SSGs and below throwing that gun around, standards should be higher for sure.

They should raise the standards for the entire army. It shouldn't matter what your MOS is. Raise the "basic" army standards and then raise the airborne standard above that.

Do they not know what the minimum for SF is?! Hell, the Regiment doesn’t even take the minimum score.

The government needs to STAY OUT OF MILITARY BUSINESS! When the scores and standards are set, that should be across the board. I tore my ACL on the SDC and working to get back, but the challenge is welcomed, especially being a 25S. Simply, the governmenr needs to mind their own business because they can't do anything that they're putting out.

UGH i wish i was in back during the APFT days it feels waay more efficient

What good is life without spiritual life? acts 2:38

13A would have higher standards because part of their career is on the line with the 13F as the infantry platoon FSO/FIST section FSO (O1-O2) and battalion FSO/FIST platoon FSO/“PL” (O3). 36+ 13A and 13F (E1-E7 & O1-O3) soldiers are attached to each battalion.

Everything old is new again… now to get everyone back on the same standard per MOS regardless of age or gender.

Bring back the APFT

It should be of the highest standard, especially for women since they can enter a male dominated role. Your battle will depend on you if they’re wounded and need to be carried or dragged out of battle. No offense to our military sisters, but they should’ve never been allowed in male dominated MOS. Biologically the physical strength and endurance don’t even come close to each other.

I'm more worried about so many people in this comment section don't know the difference between your and you're...

It should not be politicians deciding how to train soldiers. They can’t even balance a checkbook or agree on anything you really want these clowns that have never served running the show?

FA doesn’t run, we RIDE!! Except, FA 1LT and 2LT, it’s the only thing they’ll excel at till CPT. 😂

Medics, Infantry, Engineers, and Arty should all be applied to these scores.

Yes. But get rid of the ball throw FFS 😡

Everyone got fat and soft during covid when their feet weren't held to the fire because there wasn't a test for record. Time to get hard

Everybody in the army is 11 bravo initially… so it would include basic training score correct ?

There’s no argument that the ACFT is the better test, but nixing the APFT completely was a mistake. The APFT should be the standard PT test when Soldiers are going to promotion boards, NCOES, and at Schools. It should be the test that is reflected on your ERB/ORB because it’s baseline physical fitness and it makes the most logistic sense. The ACFT should be required once per Year instead of twice, and should be the score used for any competitions, awards, or qualification for special school opportunities. Case and point: You used to do a PT test on day 2 of Airborne School, but because they nixed the APFT, and the ACFT is too logistically difficult to accomplish for hundreds of Soldiers at a time - all they do now is a 10 second flexed arm hang, no PT test at all. Having both tests for different purposes would have been a better move, imo.