TRADOC Revises Army Physical Fitness Test

Update: After years of delays, the Army's new combat fitness test was announced in 2019. Read more.

Soldiers will be better prepared if they train how they would fight. This innovative physical readiness training philosophy, implemented by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), has driven the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School to revise not only how the Army conducts physical training, but also how it will evaluate a soldier's physical capability.

Why change?

Since 1980, the U.S. Army has assessed physical aptitude through the Army physical fitness test, or APFT. Commonly known as the "PT test," soldiers are required to complete three events: two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run.

"Today's PT test does not adequately measure components of strength, endurance or mobility. The events have a low correlation to the performance of warrior tasks and battle drills and are not strong predictors of successful physical performance on the battlefield or in full spectrum operations," said Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, TRADOC's deputy commanding general for initial military training, who holds a master's degree in exercise physiology.

As TRADOC's lead for the test review, Hertling collaborated with a 16-member team headed by Frank Palkoska, director of the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School, resulting in a recommendation to the Army for two revised PT tests.

"The goal is to align the training and the tests with tasks that soldiers have to perform on the battlefield so that the commander has a better tool to measure preparedness and can guide training for the unit," Palkoska said.

What will they look like?

The proposed tests, the Army physical readiness test (APRT) and the Army combat readiness test (ACRT) align with Army physical readiness training as outlined in Training Circular 3-22.20, which provides exercises, drills and activities appropriate for various levels of physical fitness.

The APRT, designed to replace the current APFT, expands from three to five events, eliminates sit-ups, increases the pace of push-ups and replaces the long-distance run with shorter-faster runs. The five events include a 60-yard shuttle run, a one-minute rowing exercise, standing long jump, one-minute push-up and a 1.5 mile run.

These events will test a soldier's anaerobic and aerobic endurance more accurately while reducing the risk of injuries. The current test also only provides a snapshot assessment of upper and lower-body muscular endurance and fails to identify anaerobic capacity, Hertling said.

In order to better assess anaerobic capacity that drive high-intensity bursts of energy, the run will be changed to 1.5 miles.

"Soldiers will tend to run faster, testing the anaerobic energy system in their body," Hertling said of the 1.5 miles. The shorter-faster run, requiring a significant burst of energy, will prepare soldiers better for the intensity of today's battlefield, he said.

To better assess muscular endurance, the one-minute rower and push-up events will not allow soldiers to pause and rest. This will require nonstop muscle movement that will demonstrate immediate muscle fatigue and failure.

TRADOC also is recommending soldiers take the ACRT, which incorporates warrior tasks and provides a more accurate assessment of the physical readiness training program and the soldier's individual capability. The ACRT will be executed in the Army combat uniform, advanced combat helmet and weapon, and includes a 400-meter run, hurdles, a high crawl, casualty drag, sprints and several other movement drills.

The ACRT is designed not only to correlate with readiness training, but also to provide a more accurate picture of a soldier's ability to perform warrior tasks and battle drills. The test incorporates several exercises and drills from the physical readiness training circular and provides a testing environment similar to that on the battlefield.

"Previously, we primarily trained for the assessment," Palkoska said. Now our training will drive the test, not the other way around, he said.

When will this happen?

The Army will begin pilot testing at approximately eight locations with multiple units in order to set standards. The pilot currently plans to align age categories for the test scores with the American College of Sports Medicine and Cooper Institute, broadening age categories to under 30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 and above for both genders.

Following the establishment of standards and a thorough review, likely lasting through the summer, the tests then can be approved for Army-wide execution. Implementing the new tests is the final step in the soldier athlete initiative to prepare soldiers better for strenuous training and the challenges of full-spectrum operations.

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Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you’re looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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