There’s arguably no greater test of physical and mental toughness than serving in the military. While the demands vary across branches, one thing is certain: the men and women who serve push their minds and bodies to the absolute limit. From running hundreds of miles and operating on just a few hours of sleep to enduring 20-hour training days, the mental resilience required is something most civilians will never experience.
Today, countless fitness challenges aim to replicate just a fraction of that intensity. One well-known example is The Murph Challenge, a grueling CrossFit workout performed in honor of fallen Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy. It mirrors elements of the physical tests service members face during training.
In line with evolving fitness standards, the U.S. Army recently announced it will replace the current Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with the new Army Fitness Test (AFT)—a redesigned assessment to better measure soldiers’ readiness and combat effectiveness.
Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) vs. Army Fitness Test (AFT)
“The AFT is designed to improve soldier readiness and ensure physical standards [and] prepare soldiers for the demands of modern warfare,” Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax, senior enlisted leader, deputy chief of staff for Operations, Army Headquarters, said in a statement. “It emphasizes holistic fitness over event-specific training and is grounded in performance.”
According to the Army’s website, the AFT will include the following five events:
- Three-repetition maximum deadlift
- Hand-release push-up
- Sprint-drag-carry
- Plank
- Two-mile run
Although the tests are similar in structure, the standing power throw event is no longer a requirement, something that Nick Barringer, Ph.D., a tactical nutritional physiologist, says was a smart logistical move. However, he does think the addition of moves that test critical short-burst explosive output will be crucial.
“Hopefully, we’ll see something like the standing broad jump make a return,” he says. “It’s simple, low-equipment, and highly correlated with lower-body power and combat performance. If we’re serious about building warfighters—not just passing scores—we need to keep explosive power in the equation. The speed that comes from lower body power is most indicative of surviving small arms fire.”
Related: The Military-Approved Way to Make Pullups Feel Effortless (and Build More Muscle)
How the AFT Stacks up to Modern Combat
Barringer, who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment as a member of the Ranger Athlete Warrior (RAW) program, says that no tests will fully capture the physical demands of modern combat.
“If what we’re seeing out of Ukraine is any indication, the next warfighter may need less focus on brute force and more on agility—dodging drones, moving under surveillance, sprinting to cover in urban terrain,” he says.
However, he does state that the new test measures movement, strength, and work capacity better.
“Until we see a test that includes evasive movement or decision-making under pressure, we’re still just approximating,” he adds. “That said, agility may become the next battlefield currency—and we’re not training it nearly enough.”
Inside the Army’s Push for Smarter, Healthier Soldiers
The Army claims that the AFT is just one part of a broader holistic health and fitness initiative (H2F) that aims to build a culture of lifelong fitness and well-being for fighters. But according to Barringer, this shift is nothing new.
“The shift has been happening—it’s just been uneven,” he says. “Special Operations started embracing holistic performance over a decade ago, and even before that, there were pockets of forward-thinking units running their own performance-based programs.”
Barringer points to standout units that are already embracing this holistic approach—and seeing real results. One example: the Bastogne Brigade H2F team at the 101st Airborne Division, which he says is “absolutely crushing it.” But for that kind of success to scale, it has to start from the top.
“World-class professionals, integrated care, and leadership that’s all-in,” he says. “That’s the key—the science and infrastructure are there, but without leader buy-in, the program stalls. If we want to weaponize the potential of H2F, we need more units following the Bastogne model and treating soldier performance like the strategic asset it is.”
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Author: Madison Freeman