Guidance reviewed October 1, 2026.

AFT grading starts before the first repetition

Soldiers should not have to guess what a grader will count. Review the current instructions together, inspect the equipment and agree on how to communicate corrections. This guide is a preparation aid, not a substitute for the Army's test-administration publication.

What this guide covers

• Preparing the grading team and equipment.
• Reviewing the five AFT events.
• Keeping instructions consistent across lanes.
• Checking raw results and records.
• Using digital tools without giving them authority over the standard.

Why consistent grading matters

A clear briefing and a consistent count make the result easier to understand and review. Follow the published criteria even when they differ from a preferred coaching cue. Training advice about how to improve an exercise is not automatically a grading rule.

Review the events in order

The AFT sequence is the three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank and two-mile run.[1] Before testing, check the current publication for preparation periods, rest intervals, termination criteria and profile provisions.

1. Three-repetition maximum deadlift

The event assesses the heaviest successful three-repetition lift.[1] Check the equipment and load before the attempt, position yourself to observe the movement and follow the current rules for a successful lift.

Do not improvise the number of attempts or treat a safety stoppage as a free retry. Brief those details from the controlling publication. If an attempt must stop, communicate the reason clearly and follow the prescribed procedure.

2. Hand-release push-up with arm extension

The event runs for two minutes.[1] Demonstrate the complete movement before counting begins. Watch the Soldier's alignment, elbow extension and arm-extension phase; use the publication's criteria to decide whether a repetition counts.

During the arm extension, the Army's instructions allow the arms and hands to touch or slide along the ground.[1] Do not add a requirement to lift them clear. Keep a coaching preference separate from a grading rule.

3. Sprint-drag-carry

The event uses five shuttles in this order: sprint, drag, lateral, carry and sprint. The Army lists two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled as standard equipment.[1]

Measure and mark the lane, check the surface and place graders where they can observe required line contacts. Rehearse the start, corrections and finish procedure before timing Soldiers. A fast stopwatch response cannot make up for an unclear lane.

4. Plank

The plank measures the time a Soldier maintains the required position.[1] Before the event, review the authorized setup, warning procedure and termination criteria. Avoid adding rules from a gym variation or an older handout.

Keep the Soldier in view throughout the event. Give required corrections clearly, and record the result using the approved timing procedure.

5. Two-mile run

The Army describes a measured, generally flat outdoor course for the two-mile run.[1] Verify the distance and route, brief turns or laps and arrange reliable finish recording. Follow the current publication's rest requirements before the run.

For a large group, decide in advance who records times and how each result is matched to the correct Soldier.

Using ArmyFit during preparation

ArmyFit lists event videos, calculators and timing tools.[17] Those can help a grader rehearse the workflow. Before using an app for record-test administration, confirm that its instructions, scoring category and available export match current requirements and unit procedures.

Keep every lane consistent

• Brief the same standard to all graders.
• Resolve disagreements before the test, not midway through a Soldier's attempt.
• Explain corrections in plain language.
• Refer uncertain cases to the OIC or NCOIC and the governing publication.

The goal is a result that can be explained from the rule, not the grader's preference.

Preparation checklist

Check equipment, course measurements and timing devices. Review the roster and required forms. Make sure the grading team knows the event sequence, safety plan and procedure for correcting a record. Leave time for a short rehearsal.

Use the current testing publication

The Army's AFT site links to updated ATP 7-22.01 material and related policy.[1] The older field manual and ACFT documents retained below are historical resources; their presence here does not make them the current AFT authority. Check the publication date and applicable changes.

Finish by checking the record

Review raw repetitions, weights and times before converting them to points. Check the Soldier's details and required signatures, then follow the unit's process for record entry. A tidy PDF is useful only if the information in it is right.

Keep your grading skills current

Use official demonstrations and unit refresher training to check your understanding. ArmyFit may be convenient for practice, but the Army's current publication remains the source for what counts.[1][17]

References and earlier reading

Links carried forward from this article are listed for further reading, not as verification of current policy or of the claims in earlier editions. Consult the checked sources below for the revised guidance.

• ArmyFit (1)
• U.S. Army resource (2)
• ArmyFit (3)
• Army publication (4)
• armytimes.com (5)
• Army publication (6)
• U.S. Army resource (7)

Sources

[1] https://www.army.mil/aft — Army Fitness Test: official events and policy resources [17] https://www.army.fit — ArmyFit product features

Credits

Photo: Jean Graves / DVIDS. 07.28.2026.

The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.