Story perspectives

Army Sets Annual Combat Field Test for 24 Specialties 2026

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Army will require the Combat Field Test annually for active-duty soldiers in 24 combat specialties starting April 2026.
The seven-event, 30-minute test in full combat uniform includes runs, push-ups, sprints, sandbag lifts and water-can carries.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll called the test critical for readiness, lethality and soldier well-being.
Soldiers who fail in their first year face no adverse administrative action and may request voluntary reclassification.

History

Historical Context

In 1980, the U.S. Army introduced the Physical Fitness Test to enhance soldier readiness, incorporating push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run. This initiative reflects a historical commitment to physical training, paralleling earlier efforts like the Presidential Fitness Test initiated in the 1950s, which aimed to improve youth fitness amid Cold War anxieties about national preparedness. The upcoming Combat Field Test continues this focus on soldier readiness.

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Story summary

The U.S. Army will require the Combat Field Test annually for active-duty soldiers in 24 combat specialties starting April 2026.
The seven-event, 30-minute test in full combat uniform includes runs, push-ups, sprints, sandbag lifts and water-can carries.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll called the test critical for readiness, lethality and soldier well-being.
Soldiers who fail in their first year face no adverse administrative action and may request voluntary reclassification.

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