PENTAGON — The Army began implementing training and practical testing of the Army Combat Fitness Test for all Soldiers in Initial Military Training on Oct. 1. Soldiers in Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, OSUT, WOBC and the Basic Officer Leaders Course will train for the ACFT to forge their physical readiness at the earliest moments in their careers.

The Army will continue implementing the Army Combat Fitness Test for all Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, while maintaining the Army Physical Fitness Test for as the Test of Record. The practice phase will prepare Soldiers to meet the standards of the ACFT based on their Military Occupational Specialties, while continuing to change the culture of fitness across our force.

Soldiers will undergo training and practical testing for the ACFT to build their individual readiness as they prepare to join cohesive teams at their units who have already built upon their readiness.

The Army is on a glide path to Total Army implementation no later than Oct. 1, 2020, but will maintain the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) as the test of record until then. This year-long period will allow the Army to continue assessing and validating the test, disseminating equipment, assessing Army policy and making adjustments as necessary. It is important to add value to this period by providing your feedback to Army senior leaders whether through the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training’s Army Physical Training and Readiness Survey or direct leadership feedback.

As soldiers prepare to meet the standards for the ACFT, remember you can train for it anywhere, in any environment, with or without equipment. Simply refer to USACIMT’s ACFT training guide, or the training videos and online resources at https://www.army.mil/acft/. Use this practice phase to prepare for meeting the standards related to your MOS.

For alternate assessments, a modification of the ACFT has been approved, which includes three aerobic test events for selected soldiers with permanent profiles that prevent full participation in the six-event test. This will not apply to soldiers with temporary profiles, as those individuals should recondition themselves, retrain and take the full six-event ACFT.

“It is imperative we transform our fitness culture to better avoid and recover from preventable injuries, and build cohesive teams,” Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston (sergeant major of the Army) said. “Leaders — take action. A key part of ‘This is My Squad’ is ensuring every member of the team is aligned with the Chief of Staff’s readiness priorities — highly trained, disciplined and physically fit Soldiers capable of winning on any battlefield at any time. The ACFT will improve our individual readiness, deployability and lethality.”