ACFT Alternate Events 2024 & 2025 | Standards & Scoring Chart

The ACFT alternate events are options for soldiers who can’t do one or more of the six main ACFT events for medical reasons or other reasons, like having a permanent profile.

If a soldier in the United States Army has some injury that is not serious enough to get them kicked out of the army, they go on a permanent army profile. 

However, they still have to complete the army combat fitness test; these are alternate events that they have to do. So in this post, I will discuss these Alternate Army Combat Fitness Test Events.

What are the alternate events for the ACFT?

• 5k Row
• 1km Swim
• 12km Bike
• 2.5-Mile Walk

Even under the previous Army Physical Fitness Test, there was an alternate event for individuals with permanent profiles.

You still had to do the push-ups and sit-ups, but you walked instead of doing the two-mile run. So you would walk, and you had a different time standard for the time you needed to finish this walk-in to be able to pass the test.

With the ACFT Standards 2023 having six events, some of those events will be very difficult for individuals with permanent profiles that don’t limit them from doing their army job and don’t require them to get kicked out of the army.

As a solution, the number of required events has been reduced to three for soldiers on a permanent profile.

Out of these three, two events remain constant for all soldiers, irrespective of their profile: the ACFT Deadlift and the ACFT Sprint Drag Carry.

You still need to be able to do those two. If you can’t do those two, you’ll probably get chaptered out of the army. But if you can, then those two Army Combat Fitness Test Events are what you have to be able to do. 

ACFT Alternate Aerobic Events

There are four ACFT alternate aerobic events that you can do:

• ACFT Bike: A Stationary Bike
• ACFT Row: A Stationary Rowing Machine
• ACFT Swim: Swimming
• ACFT Walk: 2.5 Miles

ACFT Bike

A stationary bike, commonly referred to as the Army Combat Fitness Test Bike, is a device used for indoor cycling workouts. It allows users to cycle without moving forward, simulating the action of riding a bicycle.

• Equipment Used: A Stationary Bike
• Description: Soldiers are required to cover a distance of 12 km on the stationary bike. 

Application in ACFT

• This test evaluates the soldier’s lower body strength and endurance while minimizing impact.

Benefits

• Cardiovascular Fitness: Enhances heart and lung health.
• Muscle Strengthening: Targets leg and core muscles.
• Flexibility: Adjustable resistance allows for varied intensity.
• Low-Impact: Suitable for individuals with joint issues or injuries.

ACFT Row

The ACFT Row involves the use of a stationary rowing machine, simulating the action of watercraft rowing and providing a full-body workout.

• Equipment Used: A Stationary Rowing Machine
• Description: Soldiers must row a distance of 5 km. 

Application in ACFT

• Rowing not only tests lower body endurance but also incorporates the upper body, making it a comprehensive test of fitness.

Benefits

• Full-Body Workout: Engages muscles in the arms, legs, back, and core.
• Cardio and Strength: Combines cardiovascular exercise with muscle strengthening.
• Joint Health: Low-impact nature protects the joints.
• Calorie Burn: One of the most effective calorie-burning exercises

ACFT Walk

The ACFT Walk involves covering a distance of 2.5 miles, typically measured on a track or designated route. Unlike running, walking places less stress on the joints, making it a preferred method for many.

• Description: Soldiers must walk for a distance of 2.5 miles. This evaluates aerobic endurance without the high-impact stress of running.

Application in ACFT

• This test evaluates aerobic endurance without the high-impact stress of running.
• Used to evaluate a soldier’s endurance, lower body strength, and pacing abilities, it is essential for long marches or treks during missions.

Benefits

• Endurance Building: Builds stamina and cardiovascular health.
• Muscle Engagement: Engages the lower body, especially the calves, thighs, and glutes.
• Mental Well-Being: Walking has been linked to improved mental health.
• Accessibility: suitable for a broad range of fitness levels.

ACFT Swim

Swimming in the ACFT refers to the act of moving through water by using the limbs. It’s a multifaceted exercise encompassing various strokes like freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly.

• Description: Swimming for 1 km. 

Application in ACFT

• This test evaluates cardiovascular endurance in a low-impact environment.
• It measures a soldier’s ability to move efficiently in water, an essential skill for various military operations and also an indicator of overall fitness.

Benefits

• Total Body Workout: Engages almost every major muscle group.
• Cardiovascular Enhancement: Boosts heart and lung health.
• Muscle Toning: Resistance from the water helps tone muscles.
• Rehabilitation: often used for therapy due to its low-impact nature.

A swim was one of the alternate events for the APFT test too, but I’ve never seen anybody get to do the swim as an alternative. The most common one was the 2.5-mile walk.

ACFT Alternate Event Standards & Scoring

Let’s discuss the ACFT alternate event scoring and minimum standards required to pass the ACFT alternate aerobic events for individuals on permanent profiles.

• The stationary bike is going to require them to do 12,000 meters. 
• On the stationary rowing machine, they will need to do 5,000 meters.
• If they’re lucky enough to get to do the swim, well, they have to do 1,000 meters.
• A walk has been added; you will complete 2.5 miles.

ACFT Alternate Event Standards differ based on age and gender to ensure fairness. The standards ensure that soldiers are evaluated appropriately for their demographic.

The following are examples of standards and scores based on the age and gender of the soldier:

2.5-mile Walk: 

• The standard times for this event vary according to age groups. 
• For instance, young males (17-21 years) are expected to complete the walk in 31:00 minutes, whereas females in the same age group have 34:00 minutes.
• These times adjust with age, and for soldiers aged over 62, both males and females are allocated 36:00 minutes.

12 km Bike: 

• Similar to the walk, age plays a factor in the time standards. 
• Males (17-21 years) are allocated 26:25 minutes, while females of the same age have 28:58 minutes. Soldiers over 62 years have 28:07 minutes (males) and 30:41 minutes (females) to complete this event.

1 km Swim: 

• Younger males (17-21 years) must complete the swim in 30:48 minutes, while females in the same age group have 33:48 minutes. 
• Soldiers over 62 years are given 32:50 minutes (males) and 35:48 minutes (females).

5 km Row: 

• The standards for rowing are the same as swimming. 
• For instance, males in the age range of 17-21 must finish within 30:48 minutes, while females have 33:48 minutes. 
• For those over 62, males have 32:50 minutes and females get 35:48 minutes.

In summary, the ACFT alternate events standards are carefully structured, considering age and gender, to ensure that each soldier is tested according to their physical capabilities. 

This provides a fair assessment for those with permanent profiles and ensures they maintain the required fitness levels suitable for their age and gender

Important Notes

It’s worth noting that when you transition from the deadlift to the sprint drag carry and then to the aerobic event, you must do so in 10 minutes or less.

Therefore, the rowing machine, the exercise bike, or the swimming pool should be close to avoid going over the 10-minute rest time between doing that last event and going to do the alternate event.

In this process, the tenacious strength and perseverance of the soldiers were fully demonstrated. To commemorate this hard-won victory, the extraordinary performance of each soldier can be celebrated by Custom Challenge Coins. 

In terms of design, the iconic elements of ACFT can be incorporated, and the silhouettes of deadlift, sprint drag, and aerobic exercise can be engraved on the front of the coin to symbolize the three core challenges and alternative items in the test.

The name of each soldier and the date of completion of the test can be engraved on the back of the coin, making this honor a unique personal mark. 

Awarding such challenge coins to outstanding soldiers is not only a recognition of their outstanding performance but also an expectation of unlimited possibilities in the future.

Those are the three ACFT standards and alternate events that individuals with a permanent profile must complete.

So if they pass the sprint, drag carry, deadlift, and then whichever alternate event they’re doing of the aerobic event, they will pass the army combat fitness test.

Those are the three events for the alternate events of the ACFT. So it’s much shorter than someone who has to do the six events. 

But this is what someone who is injured and has a permanent profile has to do for them not to be kicked out of the army or get medically chaptered.

Many of my readers wanted to know their alternate events because they may be aware of the alternate events for the PT test, the Army APFT.

Aerobic ACFT Alternate Event: 2.5-mile Walk

Age Range	Male Time (MM:SS)	Female Time (MM:SS)
17-21	31:00	34:00
22-26	30:45	33:30
27-31	30:30	33:00
32-36	30:45	33:30
37-41	31:00	34:00
42-46	31:00	34:00
47-51	32:00	35:00
52-56	32:00	35:00
57-61	33:00	36:00
Over 62	33:00	36:00

Aerobic ACFT Alternate Event: 12 km Bike

Age Range	Male Time (MM:SS)	Female Time (MM:SS)
17-21	26:25	28:58
22-26	26:12	28:31
27-31	26:00	28:07
32-36	26:12	28:31
37-41	26:25	28:58
42-46	26:25	28:58
47-51	27:16	29:50
52-56	27:16	29:50
57-61	28:07	30:41
Over 62	28:07	30:41

Aerobic ACFT Alternate Event: 1 km Swim

Age Range	Male Time (MM:SS)	Female Time (MM:SS)
17-21	30:48	33:48
22-26	30:30	33:18
27-31	30:20	32:48
32-36	30:30	33:18
37-41	30:48	33:48
42-46	30:48	33:48
47-51	31:48	34:48
52-56	31:48	34:48
57-61	32:50	35:48
Over 62	32:50	35:48

Aerobic ACFT Alternate Event: 5 km Row

Age Range	Male Time (MM:SS)	Female Time (MM:SS)
17-21	30:48	33:48
22-26	30:30	33:18
27-31	30:20	32:48
32-36	30:30	33:18
37-41	30:48	33:48
42-46	30:48	33:48
47-51	31:48	34:48
52-56	31:48	34:48
57-61	32:50	35:48
Over 62	32:50	35:48

Male Aerobic ACFT Alternate Events Standards Scoring

The following are the male ACFT alternate event standards & scoring:

Age Range	2.5-mile Walk (MM:SS)	12 km Bike (MM:SS)	1 km Swim (MM:SS)	5 km Row (MM:SS)
17-21	31:00	26:25	30:48	30:48
22-26	30:45	26:12	30:30	30:30
27-31	30:30	26:00	30:20	30:20
32-36	30:45	26:12	30:30	30:30
37-41	31:00	26:25	30:48	30:48
42-46	31:00	26:25	30:48	30:48
47-51	32:00	27:16	31:48	31:48
52-56	32:00	27:16	31:48	31:48
57-61	33:00	28:07	32:50	32:50
Over 62	33:00	28:07	32:50	32:50

Female Aerobic ACFT Alternate Events Standards

The following are the female ACFT alternate event standards & scoring:

Age Range	2.5-mile Walk (MM:SS)	12 km Bike (MM:SS)	1 km Swim (MM:SS)	5 km Row (MM:SS)
17-21	34:00	28:58	33:48	33:48
22-26	33:30	28:31	33:18	33:18
27-31	33:00	28:07	32:48	32:48
32-36	33:30	28:31	33:18	33:18
37-41	34:00	28:58	33:48	33:48
42-46	34:00	28:58	33:48	33:48
47-51	35:00	29:50	34:48	34:48
52-56	35:00	29:50	34:48	34:48
57-61	36:00	30:41	35:48	35:48
Over 62	36:00	30:41	35:48	35:48

ACFT Alternate Event Score Chart

ACFT Standards Alternate Events Questions (FAQs)