Appendix H – Physical Fitness Standards
Physical Fitness Assessment for Entry into Service
Each Service has its own specific physical fitness assessments which all candidates who have been recommended for appointment or enlistment must undergo.[498]
For the Army the requirements are:
- For men: 15 push-ups, 45 sit-ups, 7.5 shuttle run score.[499]
- For women: 8 push-ups, 45 sit-ups, 7.5 shuttle run score.
- Special requirements apply for those in Special Forces (from which women are currently excluded from recruitment): 30 push-ups, 60 sit-ups, 10.1 shuttle run score.
For the Navy the requirements are:
- For men: 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups (feet held), 6.1 shuttle run score.
- For women: 6 push-ups, 20 sit-ups (feet held), 6.1 shuttle run score.
- Special requirements apply for Navy Clearance Diver and Naval Reserve Diver applicants: 6 heaves (chin-ups), 30 push-ups, 25 sit-ups and a 10.1 shuttle run score.
For the Air Force the requirements are:
- For men: 10 push-ups, 20 sit-ups (feet held), 6.5 shuttle run score.
- For women: 4 push-ups, 20 sit-ups (feet held), 6.5 shuttle run score.
- Special requirements apply to applicants who are over 55. Ground Defence Officer and Airfield Defence Guard require the following: 15 push-ups, 45 sit-ups, 7.5 shuttle run score.
ADFA Initial Fitness Assessment (based on Army Initial Fitness Assessment – Entry Test)
ADFA conducts an Initial Fitness Assessment of cadets during YOFT to gauge their level of fitness in order to tailor programs as required. This initial assessment is based on the fitness assessment conducted on entry into the Army (an Initial Fitness Assessment involving a shuttle run, push-ups and sit-ups) and allows for some gender differences as provided below:
| Gender | Push-ups | Sit-ups (feet held) | Multi Stage Fitness Test (Beep) |
| Male |
15
|
45
|
7.5
|
| Female |
8
|
45
|
7.5
|
ADFA Fit test and Single Service Fitness Test (SSFT)
The ‘ADFA Fit Test’ is conducted 3 times a year in conjunction with the SSFTs. Cadets are only required to pass one SSFT as a prerequisite for graduation in third year.
The SSFTs, like the initial assessments, include a ‘multi-stage fitness test’ (a shuttle run to measure aerobic capacity, push-ups and sit-ups) as a means of assessing the physical development of cadets. The requirements are slightly different for each Service and are slightly lower for women than men. Adjustments are also made on the basis of age.[500]
The ADFA Fit Test is intended to be a standard test for all 1st and 2nd year cadets ‘which is fair and equitable’ and provides a mixture of all three different Service SSFT standards. Those who fail to achieve the required standards will be placed onto remedial PT and will not be allowed to participate in sport.[501]
All cadets are required to do:
- push-ups (to IAW RAN SSFT standards)
- sit-ups (to IAW RAAF SSFT standards, 65 reps, feet held)
- 2.4km run (IAW individual SSFT standards).
During Single Service training, cadets may participate in more physically demanding activities. All cadets conduct Obstacle Course Training at ADFA. Single Service training for army cadets also includes bayonet assault courses, endurance marching over long distances, and carrying packs or loads which are weighted based on a person’s body weight (rather than age or gender).
[498] Australian Defence Force, ‘Physical Fitness Assessment and Multistage Fitness Test’, www.defencejobs.gov.au/fitness/ (viewed 1 September 2011).
[499] The shuttle run consists of a series of 20 metre sprints. The test to level 7.5 involves 56 shuttles (a total distance of 1120 metres), and takes approximately 6 minutes and 30 seconds to complete.
[500] LTCOL N Fox, Email to Review, 22 August 2011.
[501] Australian Defence Force Academy, ‘ADFA Fitness Assessments and Remedial Processes’, PRT/06/2011 (2011) provided to the Review, 22 August 2011.