ACFT Alternate Aerobic Events: Row, Bike, Swim & Walk Standards
Official time cutoffs, machine calibration specifications, and DA Form 3349 permanent profile rules under DA Form 705-TEST.
Soldiers with a permanent medical profile (DA Form 3349) prohibiting the Two-Mile Run can qualify on one of four authorized alternate aerobic events: 5,000m Row (passing cutoff 25:00), 12,000m Stationary Bike (passing cutoff 25:00), 1,000m Swim (passing cutoff 25:00), or 2.5-Mile Walk (passing cutoff 34:00 to 36:00). Alternate events award 60 passing points upon successful completion within the time limit.
If you are testing on an alternate aerobic profile, calculate your baseline points and composite standing across the other five events using our Army ACFT calculator.
Official Passing Thresholds for Alternate Aerobic Events
Under Army Directive 2022-05 and active DA Form 705-TEST instructions, alternate aerobic events are administered when a soldier's profile precludes running. Passing criteria across all four options are standardized as follows:
| Alternate Event | Prescribed Distance | Standard Time Cutoff | Approved Equipment Standard | Scoring Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 Row | 5,000 meters | 25:00 (5:00/1,000m pace) | Concept2 Model D/E (Damper setting 1 to 10) | 60 Passing Points |
| Stationary Bike | 12,000 meters (12 km) | 25:00 (approx. 28.8 km/h) | Wattbike Pro/Trainer or approved upright ergometer | 60 Passing Points |
| 1,000m Swim | 1,000 meters | 25:00 (40 laps in 25m pool) | Regulation pool, free/breast/side strokes | 60 Passing Points |
| 2.5-Mile Walk | 2.5 miles (4,023m) | 34:00 to 36:00 (by age) | Standard track or certified flat course | 60 Passing Points |
Equipment Calibration and Execution Standards
Unit test administrators must adhere to strict testing parameters when setting up alternate events:
- 5,000-Meter Row: Must be conducted on a stationary Concept2 rowing ergometer. The soldier may adjust the damper resistance lever (typically between 3 and 5 for optimal drag factor). The monitor must be programmed for a 5,000m countdown. Stopping or standing off the seat during the event results in a test failure.
- 12,000-Meter Bike: Must be conducted on an approved ergometer (such as the Wattbike). Resistance must be calibrated before starting. Pedaling backwards or coasting without cadence is monitored; the display must register 12,000 meters before the 25:00 buzzer sounds.
- 1,000-Meter Swim: Performed in a 25-meter or 50-meter swimming pool. Swimmers may use freestyle, breaststroke, or sidestroke. Touching the bottom of the pool to rest or pushing off the lane ropes is prohibited, though turning at the wall with feet is permitted.
- 2.5-Mile Walk: Conducted on a regulation track. One foot must remain in contact with the ground at all times. Any running or airborne gait triggers an immediate warning and subsequent disqualification.
Impact on Promotion Points and Tape Exemption
Alternate aerobic events are scored at the baseline passing mark of 60 points on standard DA Form 705-TEST scorecards. An alternate aerobic pass fulfills all regulatory requirements for retention, professional military education (PME), and deployment qualification. Note that no fitness score exempts a Soldier from body composition any more: the old 540-point tape exemption (Army Directive 2023-08) was rescinded, and a waist-to-height ratio below 0.55 is now the sole Army standard (Army Directive 2026-13).
If you run the standard event instead, the two-mile run pace chart.