What the Army’s New Combat Field Test Means for Your Career

The Army Combat Field Test (CFT) has officially rolled out as of April 2026, and if you’re in a combat MOS, this isn’t another “box to check.” This test is something you’ll want to ensure you’re ready for.

It’s not “max your deadlift and go home” hard. For some, this test will look like this: your legs are shot, your lungs are burning, and you still have another mile to run.

And that’s the point.

The Army Combat Field Test is built around continuous effort, real fatigue, and movement that actually mirrors what Soldiers are expected to do in the field.

What Is the Army Combat Field Test?

This new assessment is meant to add an extra layer of intensity to the Army's evaluation of physical performance for Soldiers in combat roles, with a stronger focus on the demands of specific combat military occupational specialties (MOS).

It’s not replacing your AFT. Instead, the CFT (Combat Field Test) exists alongside it, meaning some Soldiers will now be required to pass both each year.

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The Army Combat Field Test is a seven-event assessment designed to be completed within 30 minutes. Unlike traditional testing formats, there’s no extended rest between events. Soldiers move from one task to the next – something the Army says better reflects real-world conditions.

The new Combat Field Test involves the following sequence:

• One-mile run
• 30 dead-stop push-ups
• 100-meter sprint
• 16 lifts of a 40-pound sandbag onto a 65-inch platform
• 50-meter carry of two 40-pound water cans
• 50-meter movement drill (including a high crawl and short rushes)
• Final one-mile run

All events are completed while wearing the Army Combat Uniform and boots, adding another layer tied to operational conditions.

Why the Additional Test?

According to official Army releases, the traditional fitness tests measure performance in isolated pieces. In combat, strength, endurance, and speed all show up at the same time, and usually when you’re already tired.

That’s what the new test is trying to capture.

The new Army Combat Field Test keeps Soldiers moving through a continuous sequence of physical tasks. The goal is to see how performance holds up when you’re already fatigued.

The idea is for the test to emphasize:

• Endurance under sustained effort
• Strength that carries over into movement and load-bearing tasks
• Performance that doesn’t drop off when there’s no recovery time

It’s about preparing for combat – not about meeting benchmarks.

How the Army Combat Field Test Is Different From the Current AFT

The current Army Fitness Test (AFT)—which officially replaced the ACFT in June 2025—is built around five separate events: the three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run.

Each event is scored independently, with recovery time in between. Training for it is straightforward because you can prepare for each component independently.

The Army Combat Field Test is different from the standard AFT in a few key ways:

• There’s a set standard – no adjustments based on age or sex.
• There’s no recovery between events – Soldiers get 30 minutes to complete the test.
• While the AFT measures general fitness under controlled conditions, the Army Combat Field Test is designed to show sustained physical performance in a combat environment.

Which MOS Have to Take the Army Combat Field Test?

The Army Combat Field Test is for those Soldiers in combat military occupational specialties (MOS). That includes 24 combat-related roles, including infantry, armor, and combat engineering.

According to Department of the Army directives, this test is required, not optional, for Soldiers assigned to those MOS categories.

Here’s a breakdown of the requirements:

• Active-duty Soldiers in a combat MOS (and Reserve Component on active-duty orders for 365+ days) must complete and pass both the Army Fitness Test and the Combat Field Test each year.
• Reserve and National Guard Soldiers in a combat MOS (not on extended active orders) will take one fitness test per year, alternating between the Army Fitness Test and the Combat Field Test.
• All other Soldiers will continue under existing Army Fitness Test requirements unless otherwise directed.

What People Are Saying About the New Army Combat Field Test

Soldiers old and new are responding to news of the new Army Combat Field Test. Some see the test as a more realistic approach to measuring combat fitness, hitting all the marks expected of those in a combat-ready MOS.

Others point out that any new fitness standard takes time for units to adjust to and train consistently for, which has its drawbacks to actually “improving standards.”

While discussions seem to focus on the intent behind the change and raise many unknowns, the Army Combat Field Test is moving from policy to practice, and Soldiers should be prepared to begin training and testing under the new standard within the following weeks/months.