Senate Plan Would Force the Army to Revert to Old Fitness Test But Would Allow New Events

The bill gives the Army room to change the events and scoring standards for the APFT, including adding events from the current fitness test, but only after at least a two-year period of a pilot and a briefing to lawmakers from the Army secretary. It also says the service can continue conducting the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, as an unofficial assessment. But in practice, it's unlikely units would bother with off-the-books fitness tests.

"Nothing in this section prohibits the Army from using the Army Combat Fitness Test, or any other physical assessment the Army may develop, as a supplemental tool to assess physical fitness for all or parts of the force," the legislation reads. "Army Commanders may also require higher standards than the Army-wide grading scale for promotions, awards, schools and similar actions. Such supplemental assessment shall not constitute the baseline physical fitness assessment of record for the Army unless it is incorporated into the Army Physical Fitness Test."