by Stew Smith

The Army's Basic Training Physical Fitness Test is a three-event physical performance test used to assess endurance. It is used to measure a your physical strengths, abilities, and cardio-respiratory fitness. You are required to pass the Basic Training APFT to graduate boot camp and continue on to Advance Infantry Training.

The three PFT events are two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, and a timed 2-mile run. Your results from each event are assigned a score. Your age, gender and the amount of repetitions or time elapsed for each event determines your score. Unlike other military endurance tests the APFT is normally performed in normal workout gear. To graduate boot camp you must score 150 points or higher with at least 50 points in each event.

The following chart shows examples of the minimum requirements for the Army Basic Training PFT:

Age Group	Gender	Push-Ups	Sit-Ups	2-Mile Run
17 - 21	Male	35	47	16:36
	Female	13	47	19:42
22 - 26	Male	31	43	17:30
	Female	11	43	20:36

The minimum score requirements for the Basic Training PFT differ from the requirements to graduate from AIT. To graduate AIT you must score 180 points or higher on the end-of-cycle APFT with at least 60 points in each event.

The following chart shows the minimum score allowed to graduate from AIT and the requirements for your semi-annual Army PFT there after:

Age Group	Gender	Push-Ups	Sit-Ups	2-Mile Run
17 - 21	Male	42	53	15:54
	Female	19	53	18:54
22 - 26	Male	40	50	16:36
	Female	17	50	19:36

These tables reflect the Army's bare minimum PFT requirements, however these scores are considered below average and could reflect poorly on your record.  In addition the Army offers a Physical Fitness Badge to those soldiers who score 270 or above on the Army PFT.

If you want to maximize your score on the Army PFT you will need to commit to a regular workout routine.  To learn more about developing a personal workout to ace the APFT and earn the PF Badge, check out Stew Smith's article on Preparing for the Army PFT.

Many of my favorite PT programs to train for the Army PFT can be found in the following Military.com links:

- Pull-ups / Flexed Arm Hang
- Pushups and Sit-ups
- Running
- Prepare for Ruck Marches

Other Related Army Fitness Articles:

- Army Basic Training PFT Requirements
- Army Weight Standards
- Army Fitness Workout Plan
- Army Ranger Fitness
- Performing for the Special Forces
- Physical Fitness Test Anxiety

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle - check out the Military.com Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive at Military.com. To contact Stew with your comments and questions, e-mail him at stew@stewsmith.com.

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