High-Performing Soldiers Gain Exemption โfrom Army Body Fat Standards
WASHINGTON – soldiers who consistently achieve high scores on the โArmy Fitness Testโค (AFT) will now be exempt โfrom body fat percentage โassessments, the Army announced this week. The โคpolicy, a continuationโ of โคone initially implemented under โฃthe former Army Combat โFitness Test (ACFT), aims to incentivize physical readiness and โฃmaintain high fitness standards across the force.
The exemption applies to soldiers whoโค demonstrate a commitment to peak physical condition, supporting overall readiness, health, โand a performance-focused culture within the Army. Soldiersโค in โคthe regular Army, as well asโ activated Guard or Reserve troops, must take theโ AFT every eight months,โข while National Guardโข andโ Army Reserve soldiersโ not on active duty are โtested annually.
The Army reconfigured its fitness test earlierโ this year, removing the โขball throw event and making the test sex-neutral for combat arms specialties. โคSimultaneously, the minimum required score was raised for 21 combat-focused โฃjobs. The test officially transitioned from the ACFT โto the AFT designation in June.
“This is a welcome continuation of our โprevious policy under the former Armyโ Combat Fitness Test,” โคsaeid Sgt. Maj. Christopher Stevens, a senior enlisted advisor inโค the Army Deputy โคChief of Staff office,โค in a released statement. “It rewards Soldiers who consistently demonstrate high levels โof fitness, which supports readiness, health, and creates a culture that values performance.”
