AFT Performance Height & Weight Exceptions

AFT Performance Height & Weight Exceptions – The U.S. Army places a strong emphasis on physical fitness as a cornerstone of operational readiness, unit cohesion, and individual resilience. Central to this commitment is the Army Fitness Test (AFT), which replaced the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) as the official physical fitness assessment on June 1, 2025. The AFT evaluates Soldiers’ performance across five primary events—designed to reflect the physical demands of modern combat—using sex- and age-neutral scoring standards that align with mission requirements.

AFT Performance Height & Weight Exceptions

Complementing the AFT is the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP), outlined in Army Regulation (AR) 600-9, which ensures Soldiers maintain standards for body fat percentage to support health, performance, and deployability. Height and weight (H/W) screenings serve as the initial gatekeeper: Soldiers who exceed screening table limits based on their height proceed to a circumference-based tape test to assess body fat. Failure in either can lead to enrollment in the ABCP, administrative flagging, and potential separation actions.

In a significant policy evolution, Army Directive (AD) 2025-17, issued on September 10, 2025, introduces performance-based exceptions to these body composition requirements. This directive links high AFT scores directly to exemptions from body fat assessments, providing an incentive for elite fitness while streamlining administrative burdens for top performers. While a separate H/W exemption policy remains in draft form, the current framework effectively offers relief for Soldiers who fail H/W screenings but excel on the AFT. This article explores the policy’s details, implementation, and broader implications as of November 2025.

Background: Army Body Composition Standards

Under AR 600-9, all Soldiers undergo semi-annual H/W screenings as part of their official AFT record test. The screening tables specify maximum allowable weights by height and gender, derived from population data to promote health without unduly restricting muscular builds. For example:

Soldiers exceeding these limits must undergo a tape test, measuring neck and waist (males) or neck, waist, and hips (females) circumferences to calculate body fat percentage. Allowable percentages vary by age and gender, typically 18-26% for males and 26-36% for females under 40. Non-compliance triggers ABCP enrollment, including nutrition counseling, fitness plans, and monthly monitoring. Repeated failures can result in flagging for adverse actions, such as denial of promotion or reenlistment, and ultimately separation.

Prior to AD 2025-17, no direct linkage existed between AFT performance and body composition exemptions, though high fitness was indirectly rewarded through promotion points (up to 120 for maximum scores). The directive addresses this gap, recognizing that Soldiers demonstrating superior functional fitness—via AFT scores—may possess body compositions optimized for performance rather than aesthetics.

Army Directive 2025-17: Key Provisions

Issued by the Secretary of the Army and effective immediately upon publication, AD 2025-17 modifies the ABCP to exempt high-performing Soldiers from body fat standards based on AFT results. The policy applies uniformly to the Regular Army (RA), Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States (ARNG/ARNGUS), and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), covering both the general and combat variants of the AFT. It is not retroactive, meaning pre-September 2025 AFT scores do not qualify.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the exemption, Soldiers must achieve:

• A total score of 465 or higher on a record AFT (out of a possible 500 for the general standard or 450 for combat).
• At least 80 points per event across all five primary events:
  1. Three-Repetition Maximum Deadlift.
  2. Standing Power Throw.
  3. Hand-Release Push-Ups.
  4. Sprint-Drag-Carry.
  5. Two-Mile Run (or approved alternate aerobic event, though alternates disqualify for exemption).
• Completion of all five primary events without substitutions.

Related: How to Prepare for AFT in 8-12 Weeks?

This threshold represents elite performance: approximately the 90th percentile for most age/gender groups, ensuring only those with exceptional readiness benefit. Combat MOS holders (e.g., Infantry: 11B; Armor: 19K) follow the same criteria, though their baseline passing standard is higher (350 total, 60/event).

Procedures for Exemption

1. Screening Process: All Soldiers complete H/W screening during their record AFT. Those meeting standards proceed normally. Failures would typically trigger a tape test, but exempt Soldiers skip it entirely.
2. Documentation: For H/W failures, commanders record measurements on DA Form 5500 (males) or 5501 (females), annotating: “Soldier scored a 465 or more on the AFT and is in compliance with the Army body fat standard IAW AD 2025-17 and AR 600–9.” The DA Form 705–TEST (AFT scorecard) marks “GO” for body composition.
3. System Integration: Scores and compliance are entered into the Digital Training Management System (DTMS). Evaluation reports (e.g., DA Form 2166-9) reflect “YES” for AR 600-9 compliance, with the exemption noted.
4. Timing: At least seven days must separate the AFT and H/W screening to avoid fatigue bias, though commanders may adjust for operational exigencies.
5. Revalidation: Exemption holds until the next record AFT. If the subsequent test falls outside the validity window (8 months for RA/Active Guard Reserve; 12 months for ARNG/USAR), Soldiers must retest to maintain status. Failure to revalidate reinstates full ABCP requirements.

Flagged Soldiers under prior ABCP enrollment are immediately released upon qualifying, with flags lifted per AR 600-8-2.

Benefits and Implications

This policy incentivizes peak performance by decoupling administrative penalties from body composition for AFT standouts, fostering a culture of functional fitness over mere compliance. It reduces injury risks associated with rigid weight standards—particularly for muscular athletes—and aligns with data showing high fitness correlates with lower attrition and better mission outcomes. For units, it streamlines processing: no tape tests mean faster diagnostics and less paperwork.

Critics, including some on platforms like Reddit, have noted the exemption’s high bar may exclude many, and questions persist about its equity for older or injured Soldiers. However, the Army emphasizes age-normed scoring mitigates this, with leaders expected to model excellence regardless of demographics.

Future Developments

While AD 2025-17 addresses body fat exemptions, the Army is drafting a parallel policy for direct H/W exceptions tied to AFT performance. This could further broaden relief, potentially exempting qualifiers from even initial screenings. As of November 2025, no timeline has been announced, but updates will integrate into a revised AR 600-9 within two years. Ongoing monitoring via IPPS-A reports and HQDA reviews will assess impacts, with adjustments based on data from over one million prior ACFTs.

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Conclusion

Army Directive 2025-17 represents a forward-thinking adaptation of fitness policies, rewarding AFT excellence with practical exemptions from body composition rigors. By tying H/W-triggered assessments to proven performance, the Army reinforces that readiness is about capability, not conformity. Soldiers and commanders should consult official resources like the AFT portal (army.mil/aft) and AR 600-9 for personalized guidance, ensuring compliance amid this evolving landscape. As the policy matures, it promises to enhance retention and resilience in an era of heightened global demands.