Soldiers perform deadlifts during an Army combat fitness test Dec. 12, 2024, in Sembach, Germany. The Army can safely raise minimum fitness standards for close-combat jobs, but setting the bar too high would challenge the service’s acceptance of lower pass rates, a new study suggests. (Yesenia Cadavid/US Army)

The Army can raise the bar on minimum physical fitness standards for close combat tasks and must also establish clear consequences for soldiers who fail to meet those standards, according to the recommendations of a new study on the implications of ‘demand more from front-line troops.

The Rand Corp. study, released Friday, found that higher standards for some military specialties, such as infantry and combat engineers, can be implemented to ensure better physical fitness for those who occupy more physically demanding positions.

But the Army’s ability to achieve the fitness test pass rates desired for these jobs depends on the level at which it sets a new minimum standard, the service-commissioned report said.

Between May and August, the Army tested higher potential standards among a sample of more than 44,000 soldiers working in close combat. Rand’s analysis of the results highlighted potential trade-offs associated with alternative approaches.

For example, increasing the overall minimum of the Army Combat Fitness Test from its current total of 360 points to 450 points and a minimum deadlift requirement of 150 pounds – levels desired by the Army for the ‘try – may be too high if the goal is to achieve a 95% overall success rate and a 90% success rate for some subgroups, Rand said.

By this standard, active-duty soldiers in the Regular Army had a 91.4% pass rate, while several subgroups had rates below 90%.

Pass rates for National Guard and reserve soldiers were “significantly lower” by that standard, falling below 75 percent, Rand said.

Soldiers participate in the Army Combat Fitness Test at the Grafenwoehr Training Area at the 7th Army Training Command, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. The Army can safely elevate the minimum physical fitness standards for close combat jobs, but there are consequences if the bar is too high, a Rand Corp. study finds. published on December 20. (Christian Carrillo/US Army)

The study was prompted by a bill passed by Congress last year requiring the military to raise physical fitness standards for infantry, combat engineers, armor and cavalry, forward observers d artillery, engineering and artillery officers and all special forces soldiers.

The congressional mandate was intended to address concerns about moving from an age- and gender-neutral fitness test, as was initially proposed several years ago, to one now with tailored standards.

To address these concerns, Congress has called for higher minimum physical fitness standards for soldiers working on the front lines. However, the legislation does not specify how far the new standard should go beyond the current minimum score of 360 points.

Rand noted that younger female soldiers had lower passing rates when the test’s deadlift standard was increased from a minimum of 120 pounds to 150 pounds.

The Army Combat Fitness Test is made up of six events: deadlift, standing power throw, hand release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, planks, and 2-mile run .

An overall minimum level of 420 points would be sufficient to ensure soldiers’ general aptitude for combat tasks, while setting the level at 450 points would require better aptitude, the report said.

As the military considers how to implement higher standards for combat jobs and how far they should go, it should implement “glide paths” that give soldiers enough time to s “practice and improve,” Rand said.

It must also ensure that sufficient training resources are provided to lower levels of units, such as squads and companies.

Meanwhile, the Army will need to establish “a clear and consistent message” that “includes transparent policies for non-compliance with close combat ACFT standards,” Rand said.