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United States Army Physical Fitness Test

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Minnesota National Guardsman performing a push-up.

The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) is designed to test the muscular strength, endurance, and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of soldiers in the United States Army. Soldiers are scored based on their performance in three events consisting of the push-up, sit-up, and a two-mile run, ranging from 0 to 100 points in each event. A minimum score of 60 in each event is required to pass the test. The soldier's overall score is the sum of the points from the three events. If a soldier passes all three events, the total may range from 180 to 300.

Active component and reserve component soldiers on active duty are required to take a "record" (meaning for official records) APFT at least twice each calendar year. Reservists not on active duty must take a "record" test once per calendar year.[1] FM 7-22 covers the administration of the APFT, as well as ways to conduct individual, squad and unit level physical training sessions

If, due to a diagnosed medical condition, a soldier is temporarily unable to conduct one or more of the events in the record APFT, the soldier can be granted an extension to allow him or her to overcome his or her injury and return to an acceptable level of physical fitness. If a soldier has a permanent medical condition that keeps him or her from conducting the two mile run, an alternative aerobic event consisting of either a 2.5-mile walk, an 800-yard swim, or 6.2-mile cycle ride is taken. There are no alternate events for the push-up or sit-up.

History

The physical fitness assessments for the U.S. Army were first developed in 1858 at the United States Military Academy. Over the years, the athletics for soldiers have been revised repeatedly. According to a US Army abstract, the calisthenics and events of "push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run was introduced in 1980."[2]

Events

The testing events are conducted in accordance with standards detailed in Army FM 7–22: Army Physical Readiness Training. Prior to the start of each event, the standard is read aloud, followed by a demonstration in which an individual demonstrates both the correct exercise and any disqualifying behaviors which would make the exercise incorrect.

Quoted from Army FM 7–22:

Push-up

"The push-up event measures the endurance of the chest, shoulder, and triceps muscles. On the command 'get set,' assume the front-leaning rest position by placing your hands where they are comfortable for you. Your feet may be together or up to 12 inches apart. When viewed from the side, your body should form a generally straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. On the command 'go,' begin the push-up by bending your elbows and lowering your entire body as a single unit until your upper arms are at least parallel to the ground. Then, return to the starting position by raising your entire body until your arms are fully extended. Your body must remain rigid in a generally straight line and move as a unit while performing each repetition. At the end of each repetition, the scorer will state the number of repetitions you have completed correctly. If you fail to keep your body generally straight, to lower your whole body until your upper arms are at least parallel to the ground, or to extend your arms completely, that repetition will not count, and the scorer will repeat the number of the last correctly performed repetition.

If you fail to perform the first ten push-ups correctly, the scorer will tell you to go to your knees and will explain to you what your mistakes are. You will then be sent to the end of the line to be retested. After the first 10 push-ups have been performed and counted, however, no restarts are allowed. The test will continue, and any incorrectly performed push-ups will not be counted. An altered, front-leaning rest position is the only authorized rest position. That is, you may sag in the middle or flex your back. When flexing your back, you may bend your knees, but not to such an extent that you are supporting most of your body weight with your legs. If this occurs, your performance will be terminated. You must return to, and pause in, the correct starting position before continuing. If you rest on the ground or raise either hand or foot from the ground, your performance will be terminated. You may reposition your hands and/or feet during the event as long as they remain in contact with the ground at all times. Correct performance is important. You will have two minutes in which to do as many push-ups as you can."

Sit-up

"The sit-up event measures the endurance of the abdominal and hip-flexor muscles. On the command 'get set,' assume the starting position by lying on your back with your knees bent at a 90- degree angle. Your feet may be together or up to 12 inches apart. Another person will hold your ankles with the hands only. No other method of bracing or holding the feet is authorized. The heel is the only part of your foot that must stay in contact with the ground. Your fingers must be interlocked behind your head and the backs of your hands must touch the ground. Your arms and elbows need not touch the ground. On the command 'go,' begin raising your upper body forward to, or beyond, the vertical position. The vertical position means that the base of your neck is above the base of your spine. After you have reached or surpassed the vertical position, lower your body until the bottom of your shoulder blades touch the ground. Your head, hands, arms, or elbows do not have to touch the ground.

At the end of each repetition, the scorer will state the number of sit-ups you have correctly completed. A repetition will not count if you fail to reach the vertical position, fail to keep your fingers interlocked behind your head, arch or bow your back and raise your buttocks off the ground to raise your upper body, or let your knees exceed a 90-degree angle. If a repetition does not count, the scorer will repeat the number of your last correctly performed sit-up. The up position is the only authorized rest position. If you stop and rest in the down (starting) position, the event will be terminated. As long as you make a continuous physical effort to sit up, the event will not be terminated. You may not use your hands or any other means to pull or push yourself up to the up (resting) position or to hold yourself in the rest position. If you do so, your performance in the event will be terminated. Correct performance is important. You will have two minutes to perform as many sit-ups as you can."

Two-mile run

"The two-mile run is used to assess your aerobic fitness and your leg muscles' endurance. You must complete the run without any physical help. At the start, all soldiers will line up behind the starting line. On the command 'go,' the clock will start. You will begin running at your own pace. You are being tested on your ability to complete the 2-mile course in the shortest time possible. Although walking is authorized, it is strongly discouraged. If you are physically helped in any way (for example, pulled, pushed, picked up, and/or carried) or leave the designated running course for any reason, you will be disqualified. (it is legal to pace a soldier during the 2-mile run. As long as there is no physical contact with the paced soldier and it does not physically hinder other soldiers taking the test, the practice of running ahead of, alongside of, or behind the tested soldier, while serving as a pacer, is permitted. Cheering or calling out the elapsed time is also permitted.) The number on your chest is for identification. You must make sure it is visible at all times. Turn in your number when you finish the run. Then, go to the area designated for the cool-down and stretch."

Scoring

In order to obtain the Physical Fitness Badge, soldiers must score 90 points or more in each event.

Scoring on the APFT is based on gender, age category, number of repetitions performed of the push-up and sit-up, and run time. Score tables are found in Army FM 7-22 and on Department of the Army Form 705, Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard. The score for each event ranges from 0 to 100 points; a minimum score of 60 in each event is required to pass the test. The soldier's overall score is the sum of the points from the three events. If a soldier passes all three events, the total may range from 180 to 300. APFT standards may be more rigorous for some special purpose units, such as for special operations soldiers which are usually required to score 70 points or better in each event.

Soldiers who score 270 or above on the APFT, with a minimum score of 90 in each event, are awarded the Physical Fitness Badge, which can be worn on the physical training uniform of enlisted soldiers.[3] The APFT score also converts to promotion points which are used to in part to determine the eligibility of soldiers for promotion to a higher rank. Effective with the latest change to the Army's enlisted promotion doctrine, the number of promotion points awarded to Soldiers with a "promotable" status was changed.[4] Soldiers seeking promotion from Specialist (E-4) to Sergeant (E-5) can achieve a maximum of 180 promotion points whereas a Soldier seeking promotion from Sergeant (E-5) to Staff Sergeant (E-6) can only achieve a maximum of 145 promotion points.

APFT Promotion Points
E-5 MIN 40 MAX 180
E-6 MIN 15 MAX 145

Prior to May 2013, the scoring algorithm also included an extended scale, by which soldiers could earn more than 100 points in an event by performing better than the 100-point standard. However, use of such a scale is specifically forbidden in the current Army Field Manual.[5]

Under previous versions, in order for a soldier to earn a score of over 300, he or she must have obtained 100 points in each event, meaning that a soldier could not begin to use the extended scale for any one event until 100 points were reached in all three events. Scores above maximum could only be used locally in an unofficial capacity; official record scores could never exceed 300 points. Beyond the 100-point level, each additional push-up was one additional point, each additional sit-up was one additional point, and each six-second reduction in the run time was one additional point.

For soldiers who have a medical or physical condition which them from being able to successfully participate in the two-mile run, alternate aerobic events are authorized. Scoring for alternate aerobic events is either GO or NO-GO (pass or fail) and is based on the gender and age of the individual. For the purposes of promotion, a soldier's score on an alternate event equals the average of their push-up and sit-up scores.[6] Restrictions applicable to the APFT for soldiers with medical conditions (including pregnancy) or on physical profiles are stipulated in Army Regulation 40-501.[7] For example, one stipulation is that "Once the [temporary] profile is lifted, the soldier must be given twice the time of the profile (but not more than 90 days) to train for the [next] APFT.[8]

Failure to pass two or more consecutive record APFTs can lead to separation from the Army, although this is not always the case. Soldiers who have failed an APFT are often put into a "remedial program" first, which includes additional physical training. An APFT failure also results in the soldier being "flagged" which make them ineligible for promotion and attendance to military training and/or schools. However, a soldier cannot be denied an award or decoration due to an APFT failure.[9]

Standards

SIT-UPS
MALE and FEMALE
AGE GROUP 17–21 22–26 27–31 32–36 37–41 42–46 47–51 52–56 57–61 62+
MAXIMUM 100% 78 80 82 76 76 72 66 66 64 63
MINIMUM 60% 53 50 45 42 38 32 30 28 27 26

source: APFT Standards

Deaths

In rare occurrences, soldiers have died during or right after the physical fitness test.[10][11][12] These deaths have been attributed to chronic or sudden health conditions and not due to the test itself.

Ranger Physical Fitness Test

For soldiers attending the first phase of Ranger School, a special Ranger Physical Fitness Test is conducted for all age groups, which is separate from the Army Physical Fitness Test. The test is pass/fail and involves push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, and a five-mile run. Push-ups and sit-ups are to be performed within 2 minutes.[13][14]

RANGER
EVENTS PUSH-UPS SIT-UPS CHIN-UPS 5 MILE RUN
STANDARD 49+ 59+ 6+ ≤ 40:00

See also

References

  1. ^ Army Regulation 350–1, Army Training and Leader Development, Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, December 18, 2009; Section VI, “Army Training Programs”, 1-24. “Army physical fitness training”, pp 10–13.
  2. ^ Knapik, JJ; East, WB (2014). "History of United States Army physical fitness and physical readiness training". US Army Med Dep J: 5–19. PMID 24706237.
  3. ^ The Institute of Heraldry: Physical Fitness Badge
  4. ^ Army Regulation 600-8-19 Enlisted Promotions and Reductions, Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, February 2, 2015
  5. ^ "The maximum score a Soldier can attain on the APFT is 300 points. The use of extended scale scoring IS NOT authorized.""FM 7-22 Army Physical Readiness Training" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  6. ^ AR 600-8-19, para. 3-16 c.(1)(b)
  7. ^ Army Regulation 40-501 Standards of Medical Fitness, Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, December 14, 2007
  8. ^ FM 21-20; 14–20.
  9. ^ Army Regulation 600-8-2, paragraph 1–15
  10. ^ Three Soldiers Die After Taking Army Physical Fitness Test
  11. ^ http://www.wltx.com/news/military/soldier-at-fort-jackson-dies-following-army-physical-fitness-test/283521385 Soldier At Fort Jackson Dies Following Army Physical Fitness Test
  12. ^ http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/07/26/fort-carson-soldier-collapses-fitness-training-dies.html
  13. ^ ContentServer. "Army Ranger PFT". Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Ranger School Chin-Ups (Not Pull-Ups)". passranger.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
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