ACFT vs AFT: What Changed in 2025?
| Feature | ACFT (2020–2025) | AFT (2025–present) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of events | 6 | 5 |
| Removed event | Standing Power Throw (SPT) | Removed |
| Scoring | MOS-based tiers | Age and gender normed |
| General passing score | 360 points | 300 points |
| Combat passing score | Varied by MOS | 350 points |
| Effective date | October 2020 | June 1, 2025 |
Why Was the ACFT Replaced?
The ACFT was launched in October 2020 with the goal of more closely reflecting the physical demands of combat. From the outset it generated debate. Early implementation revealed wide gaps in pass rates between groups, particularly between male and female soldiers under the original sex-neutral scoring scheme. After several rounds of revisions and an independent RAND study, the Army moved toward age and gender normed scoring, a return to the model used by the legacy APFT.
The ACFT's MOS-based standards also proved complex in practice. Units had to track multiple performance tiers (Heavy, Significant, Moderate) tied to each soldier's job, which made record-keeping and counseling cumbersome. Leadership pushed for a simpler structure that NCOs could apply uniformly across a formation.
On June 1, 2025, the Army Fitness Test (AFT) replaced the ACFT. The AFT removed the Standing Power Throw (the event that drew the most criticism for being technique-dependent and weakly correlated with combat readiness) and consolidated scoring into two clean standards: 300 points to pass on the General standard, and 350 points to pass on the Combat MOS standard. The result is a test that is easier to administer, easier to understand, and more equitable across age and gender.