What the Army CFT is

The Combat Field Test is a seven-event test for Soldiers in the Army's 24 designated combat specialties. You do every event in order on one running clock, in uniform and boots, and the only thing that counts is your total time. Finish in 30:00 or less and you pass. The standard is the same for every Soldier, regardless of age or sex.

The Army announced the CFT on April 22, 2026. It sits alongside the Army Fitness Test (AFT) and does not replace it. If you need your AFT score, use our AFT calculator.

The 7 CFT events and the rules that cost time

You move to the next event only when your grader clears you. Training for the sandbag lift? Read our CFT sandbag lift guide.

How the CFT is timed

The clock starts on "Go" at the first mile and runs until you finish the second. No event has its own time limit or score, so a slow station is fine if you make it up somewhere else. That is why this calculator works best as a planner: put in the times you run in training, leave the rest blank, and it shows how much of the 30 minutes you have left for the events you still need to work on.

Two things people forget: walking between stations is on the clock, and if a lane backs up, waiting is on the clock too. Units are told to plan enough graders and lanes so Soldiers are not stuck waiting.

Who takes the CFT, and when

• Who: Soldiers in the 24 designated combat specialties in the Regular Army, the USAR Active Guard Reserve, the ARNG Active Guard Reserve (Title 10 and Title 32), and Reserve Component Soldiers on active-duty orders of 365 days or more.
• The first year: one diagnostic CFT. The Army says no adverse administrative action will be taken for failing during the initial 365-day diagnostic period.
• After that: those Soldiers take one record CFT and one record AFT every year. Other Reserve Component Soldiers in combat specialties take one record test per calendar year, alternating between the AFT and the CFT.
• Uniform: Army Combat Uniform top and bottoms, belt, brown T-shirt and AR 670-1 approved boots, with no cover.

Setting up a CFT lane (for units)

Each lane needs the same equipment so every Soldier gets a fair test:

• 16 sandbags at 40 lb each and a 65-inch platform
• Two Army five-gallon water cans, filled to capacity (40 lb each), and a 50-meter carry lane
• A 100-meter sprint course and a 50-meter movement lane (25 meters of high crawl, 25 meters of rushes)
• A measured 1-mile route for each run (the second mile can use the same route)
• Graders who have read the testing guidance and are certified by unit leadership; results go into ATIS, and leadership validates the course layout before the test

Outfitting a lane? 16 bags per lane.

The Skirmish fills to 40 lb, is made in the USA from 1000D Cordura and ships unfilled. We quote units, take purchase orders and Government Purchase Cards, and can add your unit logo.

See CFT sandbags for units

How to get your time down

For most Soldiers the two miles are the biggest chunk of the 30 minutes, so running fitness moves the needle most. The stations reward work capacity: push-ups when you are already breathing hard, a sandbag lift to shoulder height and above, and a loaded carry right after it. Our Army CFT training plan lays out eight weeks for all seven events, and the Skirmish fills to the exact 40 lb you will lift on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Army CFT?

The Combat Field Test (CFT) is the Army's second fitness test for Soldiers in 24 combat specialties, announced on April 22, 2026. It is seven events done back to back in uniform and boots, and it is passed on total time: 30:00 or less. It does not replace the Army Fitness Test (AFT).

What is the passing time for the Army CFT?

30:00 or less for all seven events combined. No individual event is timed or scored. The standard is the same for every Soldier regardless of age or sex.

What are the 7 events in the Army CFT?

In order: a 1-mile run, 30 dead-stop push-ups, a 100-meter sprint, 16 lifts of a 40 lb sandbag onto a 65-inch platform, a 50-meter carry of two 40 lb five-gallon water cans, a 50-meter movement drill (25 m high crawl and 25 m of 3 to 5 second rushes), and a final 1-mile run.

Who has to take the Army CFT?

Combat specialty Soldiers in the Regular Army, the USAR and ARNG Active Guard Reserve, and Reserve Component Soldiers on active-duty orders of 365 days or more take one diagnostic CFT in the implementation year, then one record CFT and one record AFT every year. Other Reserve Component Soldiers in combat specialties take one record test per calendar year, alternating between the AFT and the CFT.

What happens if you fail the CFT during the first year?

The Army says no adverse administrative action will be taken for failing the CFT during the initial 365-day diagnostic period. During that diagnostic period, Soldiers who believe they cannot meet the standard may request voluntary reclassification to a non-combat specialty.

What do you wear for the Army CFT?

The Army Combat Uniform top and bottoms, a belt, a brown T-shirt and AR 670-1 approved boots, with no cover.

Can you walk during the CFT runs?

Yes. Walking is authorized on both 1-mile runs but strongly discouraged. Another Soldier can pace you as long as there is no physical contact; being pushed, pulled or carried ends the test.

Is the Army CFT the same as the Marine Corps CFT?

No. The Marine Corps CFT is the Combat Fitness Test: Movement to Contact, Ammo Can Lifts and Maneuver Under Fire, scored with points. The Army CFT is the Combat Field Test described on this page, passed on total time.