Army Unveils New Combat Field Test to Sharpen Soldier Readiness

The Army has introduced a new Combat Field Test (CFT) for soldiers in combat specialties. This comes after the 2020 launch of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to improve physical readiness assessments. The ACFT replaced the older APFT, which had gaps in evaluating battlefield fitness. In 2020, the Army rolled out the ACFT MOD for soldiers with permanent medical profiles. It required passing the maximum deadlift, sprint-drag-carry, and a two-mile run or alternate aerobic event. This version aimed to set a meaningful threshold for physical capability and link fitness testing to readiness.

The current Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 7-22.01 only mandates that permanently profiled soldiers pass an aerobic endurance event. This provides commanders with limited information about their readiness. Soldiers in non-combat roles with permanent profiles may pass the Army Fitness Test (AFT) with just a 2.5-mile walk, offering little insight into their battlefield abilities.

Army Directive 2026-07 has now introduced the CFT specifically for combat arms specialties. The CFT is designed to better assess soldiers' capabilities in combat situations, working alongside the AFT. However, soldiers with permanent profiles preventing them from performing any primary AFT event remain ineligible for the CFT and may face reclassification or require a waiver. Reinstating the original ACFT MOD minimum requirements as the AFT MOD would give commanders a credible baseline for readiness. The Army continues to seek solutions to provide more useful information about soldiers' physical preparedness. This ensures fitness testing aligns with operational demands.