Military Fitness Test FAQ: Rules Every Branch Shares

Each service writes its own test and standards. DoW Instruction 1308.03 sets the minimum for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force: each must measure body composition, aerobic fitness and anaerobic fitness, and test every member regardless of sex, age or grade (para 3.2). The Coast Guard runs its program under its own instruction, COMDTINST 6100.1.

No. DoW Instruction 1308.03 applies to the Department of War and its Military Departments (para 1.1). The Coast Guard tests under COMDTINST 6100.1 (June 2026) and still screens body composition under COMDTINST 1020.8I, which ALCOAST 079/26 says is under review for the DoW waist-to-height ratio change, with the existing policy in effect until further notice.

In the five DoW services, active duty members take two a year: the service’s own fitness test and a combat field test or combat readiness test, and a service may let its own test stand in for the combat readiness test. National Guard and Reserve members take one a year (DoW Instruction 1308.03 para 3.2.f and Table 1). Each branch’s calendar is on military fitness standards by branch.

You go into your service’s remedial fitness program and get a medical evaluation when you start (DoW Instruction 1308.03 para 3.2.i). If you show no progress without a medical reason, your evaluation or fitness report can say so; continued failure can lead to administrative measures, including separation; and a failure can hold back favorable personnel actions such as promotion (paras 3.2.i and 3.2.j). Each branch adds its own retest rules. The Army, for example, gives a soldier 90 days to pass a record AFT after a failure in the Regular Army, the Active Guard Reserve or on active duty orders of more than 60 days, and 180 days in the rest of the Guard and Reserve (Army Directive 2025-06 paras 4d and 4e).

Yes. For combat arms personnel, DoW Instruction 1308.03 makes the service fitness test sex-neutral and scored on the male standard, requires a 70 percent average across all elements, and adds a required combat field test with standards each service sets (Table 1). Military MOS physical requirements lists each branch’s combat arms jobs and the tests they take.

Not while pregnant: pregnant members do not take part in fitness testing or body composition. After a birth or a perinatal loss, including miscarriage or stillbirth, you are exempt from testing for at least 12 months, and a healthcare provider can recommend more time. Within those 12 months a service can require a test only with approval from a provider at a military medical treatment facility, and only if you choose to test or the Secretary of War decides national security needs it (DoW Instruction 1308.03 para 3.1.b(10)).

A member waived from testing for more than 18 months for the same condition or injury is assessed for referral to the Disability Evaluation System (DoW Instruction 1308.03 para 3.2.h). While on a profile or waiver, you follow a medically approved exercise program set up with medical authorities (para 3.1.b(8)).