Tag Archives: fitness standards

I’m as Fit as a U.S. Army Soldier!

“Drop and gimme 50, maggot!”

U.S. soldiers, at least those in the Army, have to take a physical fitness test twice a year.  I wondered how I, at 57-years-old, stacked up so I self-administered the three fitness components.  I did not run in army boots, nor carry a rifle or backpack!  Soldiers need to score a minimum of 60 points on each exercise.

The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) performance requirements are adjusted for age and sex.

  1. Push-ups: 32 (76 points)
  2. Army sit-ups: 32 (65 points)
  3. Timed two-mile run: 17 minutes, 38 seconds (80 points)

I gotta say I feel pretty good about this, especially since I’ve only been working out for 60-70 minutes a week over the last three months.

Steve Parker, M.D.


My first mile of the run was done in 8 minutes and 30 seconds.