Establishing higher close combat standards for the Army Combat Fitness Test: Evidence and recommendations

Key Chapter Title List

1. Introduction
2. Preliminary Evidence for Establishing Higher ACFT Standards
3. Practical Phase Design and Results
4. Relevant Perspectives on Higher ACFT Standards for Close Combat MOS
5. Conclusions and Action Plan
6. Appendix A: Supplementary Background on ACFT Evidence Sources
7. Appendix B: Supplementary Details on Methodology
8. Appendix C: Supplementary Details on Workshop Methodology and Results
9. Appendix D: Subgroup Pass Rates for Each Alternative Standard

Document Introduction

In October 2022, the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) officially became the standard physical fitness test for the U.S. Army Active Component, extending to the Reserve Component in April 2023. The test consists of six events and was initially designed as a single, gender- and age-neutral standard linked to the physical demands of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). However, prior to full implementation, it was adjusted to a scoring system differentiated by age and gender. This adjustment raised concerns about whether soldiers, particularly those in high-physical-demand MOS like close combat roles, could meet the physical requirements of their duties.

The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) explicitly mandated the establishment of higher minimum physical fitness standards for soldiers in close combat MOS. The U.S. Army commissioned the RAND Arroyo Center to conduct this study, aiming to provide actionable options aligned with Congressional requirements. The research focused on three core questions: whether sufficient evidence exists to establish gender- and age-neutral ACFT standards for close combat MOS; whether evidence supports that higher standards would maintain or enhance the overall fitness of close combat soldiers; and what impact higher standards would have on different subgroups of soldiers (gender, age, MOS, component).

The study employed a systematic analytical approach, including a review of ACFT-related research, analysis of historical physical test data, designing defensible standard options meeting the NDAA requirements, supporting the implementation and analysis of a practical phase, and gathering soldier concerns and mitigation strategies regarding higher standards through workshops. The practical phase was conducted from May to August 2024, involving over 44,000 soldiers and testing eight different standard options. Ultimately, the Army selected a hybrid option: "Total Score of 450 points (90 points higher than the general force minimum passing score of 360) + 3-Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL) of 150 lbs (10 lbs higher than the original standard for males, 30 lbs higher for females)."

Results from the practical phase indicated that the selected option would be challenging to achieve a 95% overall pass rate and 90% subgroup pass rate in the short term. The overall pass rate for the Active Army was 91.4%, with pass rates for female soldiers and some age and MOS subgroups falling below 90%. Pass rates for the Army National Guard (ARNG) and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) were significantly lower. However, the data also showed that soldier ACFT performance improves with experience, particularly for previously non-proficient soldiers and those with less test experience, suggesting potential for future pass rate improvement. In workshops, soldiers primarily focused on implementation timelines, training resource support, and communication of standards, rather than the specific choice of a higher standard.

The report concludes with three core recommendations: developing supporting policies (including transition pathways, remedial assessment, reclassification, investment in training resources, and clarifying ACFT goals); recalibrating the scoring system alongside raising standards; and gathering more evidence for standard-setting through criterion-related validation studies. The report emphasizes that regardless of the specific higher standard chosen, the implementation approach is critical to success, and that the ACFT, as a measure of physical readiness, must be integrated with other dimensions of overall health and readiness.