MCMilitary Calisthenics
Branch-specific · Army

Army ACFT Prep Circuit

Hand-release push-ups and plank/leg-tuck work — the calisthenics-adjacent events of the Army Combat Fitness Test, built into a followable circuit.

Army ACFT Prep Circuit~21 min
Round 1 of 4 · Move 1 of 5
Hand-Release Push-Ups15reps

Lower all the way down, lift both hands off the floor briefly, then press back up — the ACFT standard, removes any bounce out of the bottom.

Too hard? Do the release from knees instead of full plank.

Know the whole test

What calisthenics can (and can't) cover

Every branch's fitness test mixes a couple of pure bodyweight events with things a browser timer can't train — load, distance, or a barbell.

TestFull event listBodyweight-only portion
Army (ACFT)3-rep deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank or leg tuck, 2-mile runHand-release push-up, plank / leg tuck
Marine Corps (PFT)Pull-ups (or push-ups), plank, 3-mile runPull-ups / push-ups, plank
Navy (PRT)Push-ups, forearm plank, 1.5-mile run (or swim/bike alternates)Push-ups, forearm plank

Standards and event names change between services and over time — confirm current official requirements before treating any of this as a scoring reference.

Questions

ACFT Prep FAQ

Six: the 3-rep max deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank (or leg tuck as an alternate), and a 2-mile run. Only the push-up and plank/leg-tuck are pure bodyweight calisthenics — the rest need a barbell, a medicine ball, a sled, or distance.

Want to check where you stand?

Run your push-up and sit-up numbers through the fitness self-check, or grab the printable score sheet.