A soldier assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa does hand release pushups during the Army Combat Fitness Test in Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 18, 2025. The ACFT could lead to an overall reduction in injury rates over time, according to a Rand Corp. study released March 10. (Jamaries Casado/U.S. Army)
The Army’s latest fitness test could lead to an eventual reduction in injuries, according to a recent study that found soldiers become less prone to getting hurt as they gain experience with the program.
Researchers at the Rand Corp. examined data related to the administration of the test and found that the new one presented a similar or lower injury risk than the previous Army Physical Fitness Test.
The Army Combat Fitness Test, launched in 2022, was designed to better prepare troops for the rigors of combat. Another aim was to curb preventable injuries.
“More than half of soldiers experienced a new injury in 2021, so success in reducing the risk of injury could have a significant impact on both medical costs and lost workdays,” the report released Monday said.
The current Army fitness test is substantially different from its predecessor and revolves around six training events intended to better measure a wider range of physical capabilities, including muscular strength, agility, aerobic endurance and reaction time.
U.S. soldiers perform the deadlift during the Army Combat Fitness Test in December 2024, in Sembach, Germany. The service’s fitness test, which dates from 2022, could lead to an eventual decline in injury rates, according to a Rand Corp. study released March 10, 2025. (Yesenia Cadavid/U.S. Army)
The six events are deadlift, standing power throw, hand release pushup, sprint-drag-carry, planks and the 2-mile run.
“Learning to train for and take new physical fitness assessments should be expected to carry some degree of injury risk that can attenuate over time,” the report said. “We observed a decline in injury incidence associated with a soldier gaining experience with the test.”
The study found that soldiers who failed the test were about 20% more likely to have an injury in the 180-day window following it.
Better performance on the test also was associated with reduced risk of injury in that 180-day window, Rand said.
Data showed an increase in “overuse injuries” prior to the test date, as soldiers likely intensified their preparations. However, there was no change in the rate of acute trauma injuries leading up to the test, the report said.
“A brief spike in injuries occurred on the date of the test and for several days following the test date, which are likely injuries associated with the ACFT itself,” the report said.
The study noted that men and women were prone to different types of injuries, with women more likely to have lower-extremity injuries, while men’s injuries tended to be in the upper extremities.
Given the short amount of time the test has been in effect, Rand recommended that the Army do a better job of collecting cause-of-injury data and incorporate physical fitness assessments into injury surveillance programs.
