Air Force PAST and IFT standards 2026

The Initial Fitness Test (IFT) replaced the Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST) in November 2021. It screens candidates for Air Force Special Warfare (PJ, CCT, TACP, SR, and the STO, CRO, and TACP officer paths), plus SERE and EOD. Each career field has its own minimums, and you must pass every event in one uninterrupted session.

Career field	Pull-ups	Sit-ups (2 min)	Push-ups (2 min)	Run	2 x 25 m underwater	Surface swim
Basic SW Enlisted Airman (9T5)	8	50	40	10:20 (1.5 mi)	Pass both	15:00 (500 m)
PJ / CCT / TACP / SR (1Z1-1Z4)	8	50	40	10:20 (1.5 mi)	Pass both	12:30 (500 m)
TACP Officer (19ZXB)	12 (1 min)	75	64	22:00 (3 mi)	Pass both	12:30 (500 m)
STO / CRO (19ZXA/C)	12 (1 min)	75	64	22:00 (3 mi)	Pass both	32:00 (1,500 m)
SERE (1T0)	8	48	40	11:00 (1.5 mi)	Not tested	Not tested
EOD (3E8)	3	Not tested	Not tested	11:00 (1.5 mi)	Not tested	Not tested

Source: IFT Worksheet dated 10 Jan 2023 (OPR: AETC/A3LS), published in the Air Force's FY24 Combat Rescue Officer application. The 9T5 column applies to new enlistees, who all enter as Basic Special Warfare Airmen. The 1Z1-1Z4 column applies to Guard, Reserve, prior service, and retraining candidates.

Test order and rest periods

• Pull-ups (2 minutes; 1 minute for STO, CRO, and TACP officers), then 2 minutes rest
• Sit-ups, 2 minutes, then 2 minutes rest
• Push-ups, 2 minutes, then 10 minutes rest
• Run: 1.5 miles (3 miles for STO, CRO, and TACP officers), then 30 minutes rest
• 25 m underwater swim, two 3-minute cycles
• Surface swim: 500 m (1,500 m for STO and CRO)

How each event is graded

Pull-ups: Dead hang, palms facing away, hands about shoulder width. Chin above the bar, then back to full hang. Legs can bend but can't kick. Hanging is the only rest position. Letting go or touching the ground ends the set.

Sit-ups: Fingers interlocked behind the head, knees at about 90 degrees, feet held. Sit up until your back is perpendicular to the ground. There is no rest position: stop and the event is over.

Push-ups: Body locked straight, feet together. Lower until your elbows reach 90 degrees with your upper arms parallel to the ground. The up position is the only rest. Knees touching the ground ends the set.

Run: On a measured, level course. On a standard 400 m track, 1.5 miles is six laps plus 46 feet.

Swims: In a pool, never open water. Swimsuit plus goggles or a mask. The surface swim is freestyle, breaststroke, or sidestroke, and it must be continuous: resting on the wall or touching the bottom is a failure.

How this calculator scores you

Each event is checked against the minimum for the path you picked, and you see how far over or under you are. Any single failure fails the IFT. For enlisted Special Warfare paths, events are also checked against Battle Bunker prep targets (15 pull-ups, 80 sit-ups, 70 push-ups, 9:30 run, 10:00 swim). Those are not official, but the IFT is the floor, and the pipelines are much harder.

How to train each event

Underwaters: Train in a pool 3 times per week, with a qualified coach or lifeguard present. Work on relaxed technique and a smooth push-off. Candidates usually fail by panicking, not from a lack of lung capacity. Never practice breath-holds alone.

Surface swim: Freestyle, breaststroke, and sidestroke are all allowed. Pick the stroke you can hold efficiently for the full distance, and drill technique: most candidates cut more time from form than from conditioning.

Pull-ups: Grease the groove: sets at 30-40% of your max spread across the day, every day. Add weighted pull-ups twice a week once you're past 12. Use a band if you're under 8.

Sit-ups and push-ups: Daily high-volume clean reps, 300+ of each spread across sets of 25-50. Test yourself for 2 minutes once a week, to the exact standards above.

Run: Zone 2 aerobic running 3 times a week, plus one interval session (400 m repeats at goal pace) and a weekly tempo run. Keep the easy days easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Air Force PAST still used?

The PAST was replaced by the Initial Fitness Test (IFT) in November 2021. The current worksheet is dated 10 Jan 2023 (OPR: AETC/A3LS). Most people still call it the PAST, and the events are the same kind of test: pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, a run, two underwater swims, and a surface swim.

What are the IFT minimums for PJ, CCT, TACP, and SR?

8 pull-ups, 50 sit-ups, and 40 push-ups (2 minutes each), a 1.5-mile run in 10:20, both 25 m underwater swims, and a 500 m surface swim. The swim limit is 15:00 for new enlistees entering as Basic Special Warfare (9T5) and 12:30 for Guard, Reserve, prior service, and retrainee candidates in PJ, CCT, TACP, and SR.

What is the officer IFT for STO, CRO, and TACP officers?

12 pull-ups in 1 minute, 75 sit-ups and 64 push-ups in 2 minutes each, a 3-mile run in 22:00, and both 25 m underwater swims. STO and CRO then swim 1,500 m in 32:00; TACP officers swim 500 m in 12:30.

What order are the IFT events in?

Pull-ups, 2 minutes rest, sit-ups, 2 minutes rest, push-ups, 10 minutes rest, the run, 30 minutes rest, then two 3-minute underwater cycles, then the surface swim. Everything has to be passed in one uninterrupted session.

What happens if I break the surface on an underwater?

That component is a failure, and failing any component fails the whole IFT. Each underwater cycle is 3 minutes: push off the wall, swim 25 m underwater, then surface swim back with any stroke. You must pass both.

How long is an IFT score good for?

Enlisted candidates must pass the IFT within 60 calendar days before entering active duty or initial skills training. Recruits may be tested several times during development sessions before that.

What strokes are allowed on the surface swim?

Freestyle, breaststroke, or sidestroke. The swim is continuous: stopping to rest on the wall or touching the bottom ends the event as a failure. Goggles or a mask are allowed.

What are the SERE and EOD fitness standards?

SERE (1T0): 8 pull-ups, 48 sit-ups, 40 push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run in 11:00, with no swim events. EOD (3E8): 3 pull-ups and a 1.5-mile run in 11:00 only.

Is passing the IFT enough to make it through selection?

No. The IFT is the floor for entry, and the pipelines are far harder. That is why this calculator also shows Battle Bunker prep targets for enlisted Special Warfare candidates: 15 pull-ups, 80 sit-ups, 70 push-ups, a 9:30 run, and a 10:00 500 m swim.