The Army replaced the ACFT (Army Combat Fitness Test) with the AFT (Army Fitness Test). If you trained for the ACFT, here’s exactly what changed — and what stayed the same.
Event-by-event comparison
- Deadlift: stays — 3-repetition maximum, scored in pounds
- Hand-release push-up: stays — 2 minutes, correct reps
- Sprint-drag-carry: stays — 250-meter shuttle for time
- Leg tuck → Plank: the biggest change — the leg tuck is out, replaced by the maximum plank hold
- 2-mile run: stays — total time
Why the plank replaced the leg tuck
The leg tuck proved difficult to standardize and grade fairly across the force, and it required a pull-up bar for every soldier tested. The plank tests core endurance with no special equipment and simpler grading — making large-scale testing faster and more consistent.
Scoring philosophy
The AFT keeps the ACFT’s core structure — five scored events, 0–100 points each, age and sex norming — but streamlines administration. The two-tier system (general 300 / combat 350 with sex-neutral scoring for 21 combat arms MOSs) clarifies who is held to which bar. Full details in the 2026 AFT standards guide.
What it means for your training
If you built your program around the leg tuck, shift that core work to plank progressions (see how to max your AFT score). Everything else in your training transfers directly. Re-baseline yourself with the AFT calculator — especially the plank, where the scoring curve rewards long holds.
Unofficial comparison for study purposes. Verify current policy with your unit.