Military Pushups in the Army Fitness Test: Rules & Scores

Military Pushups in the AFT: Rules, Hand-Release Arm Extension, and Scoring Basics

What counts as a valid hand-release push-up

• Start in a stable push-up position with hands under shoulders and a straight body.
• Lower until the chest touches the floor, then briefly pause.
• Lift the hands from the floor, extend the arms fully, then replant the hands and press back to the starting position.
• A rep is credited only after you complete the full top extension and return to the proper start alignment.

Arm extension and full range of motion requirements

• At the top, elbows fully straighten and the torso remains in a straight line.
• Throughout, shoulders stay over the wrists and the body doesn’t sag.

Per-event scoring overview and minimums (60 per event)

• Each event earns a 0–100 score based on reps achieved.
• The minimum score per event is 60.
• Scoring follows sex-neutral benchmarks, so the same standard applies to all participants.

How push-up scores contribute to the overall AFT score

• The push-up event score combines with the other events to form the total AFT score; the sum reflects overall performance under AFT rules.

Combat vs Combat-Enabling Scoring, ACFT Comparisons, and MOS Standards for Push-Ups

Combat vs combat-enabling: how push-ups are scored

• In combat MOS, scoring emphasizes endurance and strict, full-range form; reps must be clean and controlled.
• For combat-enabling MOS, the approach mirrors the same floor but may include additional form checks; note that hand-release push-up variants exist in some pipelines to verify stability.
• The minimum score per event 60 applies across standards, with deductions for incomplete depth or pausing.

MOS eligibility and rollout timing for AFT

• The AFT rollout is phased; not all combat and combat-enabling MOS are active at once.
• Check MOS rollout timing updates to confirm when your MOS becomes eligible and test window.

ACFT vs AFT: push-up differences and transition notes

• ACFT uses a distinct push-up event with its own scoring rubric; transitions to ACFT require training for cadence and form changes.

Sex-neutral scoring and its implications for MOS evaluation

• Sex-neutral scoring applies the same rep standards for men and women; when assigning MOS, commanders weigh the job’s physical requirements rather than sex, though some roles historically favored certain capabilities.

Rollout Timelines, Readiness, and Practical Scoring Guidance for Units

Phase-by-phase rollout details by MOS/service component (Phase 1, Phase 2 and beyond)

Phase 1 launches June 1, 2025 for active-duty combat MOSs, with AFT transition notes. Phase 2 begins January 1, 2026 to complete Reserve rollout and non-combat MOSs; Phase 3 extends rollout to remaining units as needed. Service components will follow MOS-specific timelines, aligned with the combat MOS rollout timing and AFT transition notes.

Active vs Reserve timelines and readiness considerations

Active-duty units should front-load training windows within standard PT cycles; Reserve units will stagger testing during annual training periods and unit drills to manage readiness without overwhelming schedules.

Injury risk and mitigation during AFT rollout

Use progressive loading, start with partial pushups, emphasize technique, and build volume gradually. Track fatigue, provide rest days, ensure proper warmups, hydration, and early reporting of joint pain or form breakdown.

Practical per-event scoring tables and sample score breakdowns

Sample per-event scoring (example framework; adapt to official scales):

• Pushups (reps): 0–9 = 0 pts, 10–19 = 10 pts, 20–29 = 20 pts, 30+ = 30 pts
• Run (1.5 miles, minutes:seconds): 12:00–12:59 = 30 pts, 13:00–14:59 = 20 pts, 15:00+ = 0 pts Sample breakdown: Soldier A = 28 pushups (20 pts) + 13:42 run (30 pts) = 50 pts.

MOS-specific timelines and transition notes beyond a general overview

MOS-specific dates are subject to change; refer to AFT transition notes for exact rollout windows and readiness expectations by unit.