Have you ever considered joining the US Army? While you may meet many of the basic qualifications in terms of citizenship, age, educational attainment, and vocational aptitude tests, there is one qualification that’s tougher to meet for most. That’s Army Physical Fitness Test.

The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) is a mandatory fitness test that US Army service members must undergo twice every year. The test aims to see if a soldier has the muscular strength, endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness required to stay in the military.

The APFT has three disciplines—2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups, and a 2-mile run. The test counts the number of push-ups and sit-ups an examinee can do within 2 minutes. For the push-ups, the body must remain rigid and straight throughout each repetition while the elbows are fully bent. For the sit-ups, the examinee must keep the knees at 45-degree angles while raising the body to a vertical position.

For the 2-mile run, examinees must finish running the entire distance in the shortest time possible. They are not allowed to use any help or touch other examinees. While walking is permitted, it’s strongly discouraged as it adds to the run time.

To pass the APFT, each examinee must get at least 60 out of 100 points in each category, with the minimum total score at 180 out of 300 points.

If you would like to know the number of repetitions and running time for your age and gender, you can take a look at this chart (https://usarmybasic.com/army-physical-fitness/female-pushup-standards) to serve as your guide.

You may notice that the standards for passing the test peak at the 27-31 age range. This is because the military considers this the prime age to reach physical fitness.



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Using the APFT Calculator

The Army Physical Fitness Test Calculator is a simple tool that can help you determine if you will pass the APFT. You can use it to plot down how many repetitions you can do within 2 minutes as well as how long it takes you to run 2 miles. Once you input all the data, the calculator will give you a score that will tell you if you can pass the test.

While training for the exam, you can use the APFT Calculator to see your progress. At the start, you may not be able to pass the exam. However, with constant strength and endurance training, you can soon get closer to your goal.

As a tip, it’s important that you aim not just to pass the test but to surpass the passing grade as much as you can. This gives you enough leeway in case you make a few minor mistakes during the actual APFT.

Before joining the US Army, keep in mind that they also have height and weight standards to adhere to. All recruits must be at least 60 inches tall. The standard weight for recruits, however, depends on their height and age. So while you’re training to pass the Army Physical Test, you can also keep this in mind so that you will meet the Army’s height and weight standards.