Army rolls out new combat fitness test for frontline troops
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The military announced in a press release earlier this week He said he was launching a new combat fitness test for front-line troops as leaders seek to bolster battlefield readiness amid ongoing recruitment challenges.
Age- and gender-neutral, the Battlefield Test (CFT) is administered to soldiers across combat specialties, designed to reflect the physical demands of modern warfare and signals a shift toward more stringent, role-specific standards as the Army seeks to increase readiness within its ranks.
The move comes after the Army failed to meet recruiting targets in recent years; This includes reducing the deficit by approximately 15,000 soldiers in 2022. Leaders are trying to rebuild recruiting numbers and overall force strength, according to U.S. Army Recruiting Command data.
While the service has since recovered to meet its 2025 goals, leaders continue to work on long-term readiness.
The update follows broader changes to Army fitness standards in recent years.
In 2025, the service announced a new Army Fitness Test to replace the previous Army Combat Fitness Test after months of data analysis and feedback, and officials said the changes were designed to increase readiness and emphasize combat effectiveness.
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A group of men do push-ups during a military boot camp training session. (iStock)
The update comes amid War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broader push to return the military to the “warrior ethos.”
“Battlefield Testing is a critical step forward in ensuring that our soldiers serving in the most physically demanding specialties have the specialized conditioning needed to dominate the modern battlefield,” Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said in a statement Wednesday. he said. “This is about the readiness, lethality and well-being of our soldiers.”
An Army spokesman did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Soldiers will have 30 minutes to complete seven events with the clock ticking continuously while wearing their Army Combat Uniform and boots.
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The update follows broader changes to Army fitness standards in recent years. (iStock)
First, they must run a mile, followed by 30 full push-ups, a 100-yard sprint, lift a 40-pound sandbag 16 times on a 65-inch platform, and carry two Army water canisters, 40 pounds each, 50 feet.
The test then requires soldiers to complete a 50-meter movement drill with a high crawl and a three- to five-second 25-meter sprint before a final one-mile run.
The test then requires soldiers to complete a 50-meter movement drill with a high crawl and a three- to five-second 25-meter sprint before a final one-mile run. (Reuters, File)
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The Army will begin administering the new test this month, and soldiers will be required to complete it annually.
In the first year of the military’s implementation of the new standard, soldiers will not face penalties; This is part of a broader effort to prepare troops for the physical demands of modern combat.
