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Preparing for new Army Fitness Test standards By Roan Smith
With the new Army Fitness Test (AFT) becoming the official test of record this month, soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are preparing to meet the updated standards. The change will increase warfighting readiness, enhance physical performance and reduce the risk of injury. The new standards will take effect January 2026 for the active-duty components and June 2026 for the Reserve and National guard.
The new standards for the AFT include a minimum score of 350 points total, with a minimum for 60 points per event. Scores are based on a soldier’s age and gender, with each event worth up to 100 points. The events include a two-mile run, a plank for time, sprint-drag-carry shuttle, hand release push-ups and three repetitions of a maximum deadlift.
“A service member can first prepare safely and effectively for a physical fitness test by establishing a regular and consistent exercise routine,” said Travis Combest, an exercise therapist at Walter Reed. “This would include making an exercise routine part of the service member’s lifestyle.”
Combest referenced the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which recommends incorporating a variety of workouts, such as 150-300 minutes of aerobics activity a week and at least two nonconsecutive days a week of muscular strengthening.
“It is important to gradually increase your intensity, duration each week,” Combest said. “A good rule is the 10 percent rule where individuals shouldn’t increase their intensity more than 10 percent per to decrease risk for developing an injury.”
Walter Reed offers several resources to assist with fitness preparation, including the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) fitness center, multiple on-base areas for workouts and sports, and the outpatient nutrition clinic, which provides exercise physiology for body composition, exercise instruction and functional movement screening. To learn how you can better prepare to meet these standards, contact Walter’s Way Call Center at 301-295-8901 to schedule an appointment.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2025 14:48 |
| Story ID: | 501850 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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