The Air Force rolled out a new fitness test format for 2026 called the PFRA. Here's what changed, what's on it, and what it means for your Airman heading into BMT.
Quick Answer
- New name: Physical Fitness Readiness Assessment (PFRA), replacing the prior PT test format.
- Four scored components: cardio, upper-body strength, core endurance, and body composition.
- Rollout: diagnostic-only from March 1 through August 31, 2026; full scoring resumes September 1, 2026.
Official standards and score tables are set and updated by the Air Force. Always confirm current requirements with your Airman or official Air Force fitness guidance.
What's on the 2026 Test
| Component | Event Options |
|---|---|
| Cardio | 2-mile run OR 20-meter High Aerobic Multi-shuttle Run (HAMR) |
| Upper Body | 1-minute push-ups OR 2-minute hand-release push-ups |
| Core | 1-minute sit-ups OR cross-leg reverse crunches OR a timed forearm plank hold |
| Body Composition | Waist-to-height ratio, measured separately from the rest of the test |
What Changed From the Old Test
The 2026 update replaced the previous 1.5-mile run with a longer 2-mile run option, brought back a scored body-composition component using waist-to-height ratio, and gave Airmen a choice of event formats within several categories instead of one fixed exercise per component.
What This Means for BMT
Trainees at BMT work toward a graded fitness assessment as part of the standard 7.5-week schedule, ahead of the Airman's Coin Ceremony — see our full BMT schedule for where it falls. The 737th Training Group sets the specific pass/fail thresholds used during training, which can differ from career-long fleet standards and can be updated, so the most reliable source is what your Airman is told directly by their MTI.
Related Pages
BMT Schedule
Where the fitness assessment falls in the timeline.
What Is an MTI?
Who runs training and PT standards at BMT.
Airman's Coin Ceremony
What comes after trainees pass their milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Air Force PFRA?
The Physical Fitness Readiness Assessment (PFRA) is the Air Force's updated fitness test, phased in for 2026. It scores a cardio event, an upper-body event, a core event, and body composition.
What are the events on the 2026 Air Force PT test?
A 2-mile run or 20-meter HAMR shuttle for cardio, push-ups or hand-release push-ups for upper body, sit-ups, cross-leg reverse crunches, or a forearm plank for core, and a waist-to-height ratio measurement for body composition.
When do the new 2026 standards take effect?
The test runs in a diagnostic-only window from March 1 through August 31, 2026, meaning Airmen take it but it isn't scored against career impacts yet. Official scoring under the new standards resumes September 1, 2026.
Does BMT use the same PT test as the rest of the Air Force?
BMT trainees work toward the same core fitness standards the Air Force uses fleet-wide, with a graded assessment built into the BMT schedule ahead of the Airman's Coin Ceremony. Exact BMT-specific pass thresholds are set by the 737th Training Group and can be adjusted, so confirm specifics with your Airman.