Official IFT Standards by Career Field
The IFT is pass/fail: every event is performed in one uninterrupted evaluation, in fixed order with prescribed rest periods, and failing any single component fails the test. These are the standards from the official AETC IFT worksheet (10 Jan 23 edition, OPR: AETC/A3LS), which also covers EOD and SERE candidates:
| Event | SW Enlisted (9T5 · PJ/CCT/TACP/SR) | EOD (3E8) | SERE (1T0) | Officer (STO/CRO · TACPO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pull-ups (2 min; officers 1 min) | 8 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| Sit-ups (2 min) | 50 | Not tested | 48 | 75 |
| Push-ups (2 min) | 40 | Not tested | 40 | 64 |
| Run | 1.5 mi — 10:20 | 1.5 mi — 11:00 | 1.5 mi — 11:00 | 3 mi — 22:00 |
| 2 × 25m Underwater Swim | Complete both | Not tested | Not tested | Complete both |
| Surface Swim | 500m — 15:00 (BSWEA) / 12:30 (PJ/CCT/TACP/SR) | Not tested | Not tested | 1500m — 32:00 (STO/CRO) / 500m — 12:30 (TACPO) |
Sequence and rests per the worksheet: pull-ups → 2-min rest → sit-ups → 2-min rest → push-ups → 10-min rest → run → 30-min rest → underwater swims (3-minute cycles) → surface swim. Enlisted candidates must pass an IFT within 60 calendar days before entering active duty or initial skills training. Standards can be revised — confirm the current worksheet edition with your recruiter.
Minimums contract you; they do not get you selected. Assessment & Selection eliminates roughly half of IFT passers, and successful candidates typically arrive at 20+ pull-ups, 80+ push-ups, a sub-9:00 1.5-mile, and a 500m swim under 10 minutes. Treat the worksheet numbers as a floor you can clear on a bad day.
Where Candidates Actually Fail: The Water
Most IFT failures happen in the pool, not on the track. The two 25-meter underwater swims punish panic more than poor fitness, and the 500-meter surface swim exposes anyone who trained only on land. Preparation principles:
- Never train underwater work alone. Shallow-water blackout kills experienced swimmers. Always use a qualified supervisor or lifeguard-observed lane.
- Build swim frequency before swim intensity — three or four short pool sessions a week beat one exhausting one.
- Learn technique first. The 500m is about economy: a candidate with a clean freestyle or sidestroke at moderate fitness beats a fit thrasher.
- Practice the full sequence — events in test order with test rest periods — before your official attempt, exactly like a mock PT test for the PFRA.
IFT vs. the Regular Air Force PT Test
| Special Warfare IFT | Air Force PFRA | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Entry gate to the SW pipeline | Force-wide fitness assessment |
| Scoring | Pass/fail per event | 100-point composite, interpolated |
| Events | 6, including two swim events | 4 components, no swimming |
| Adjustment | Same bar for all applicants | Age- and gender-normed charts |
| After passing | Ship to Special Warfare prep, then A&S | Retest in 6-12 months |
Special warfare candidates still take the regular assessment throughout their careers — the 2026 PFRA standards and calculator apply to them like everyone else. The IFT is the extra gate at the front.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Air Force Special Warfare IFT?+
The Initial Fitness Test — formerly called the Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST) — is the entry gate for Air Force Special Warfare career fields: Pararescue (PJ), Combat Control (CCT), Special Reconnaissance (SR), and TACP. All six events are performed in a single session, and failing any one event fails the entire test, blocking a special warfare contract.
Is the IFT the same as the PAST test?+
Yes — the test was renamed from PAST to IFT. Older resources, forums, and recruiters may still say PAST; the structure (calisthenics, run, and swims in one session) is the same concept, with standards maintained by the Special Warfare Training Wing.
What are the IFT minimums?+
Per the official AETC IFT worksheet, enlisted AFSPECWAR candidates (BSWEA/9T5 and PJ/CCT/TACP/SR) need: 8 pull-ups in 2 minutes, 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes, 40 push-ups in 2 minutes, a 1.5-mile run in 10:20 or faster, two 25-meter underwater swims (complete both), and a 500-meter surface swim — 15:00 for BSWEA entry, 12:30 for identified PJ/CCT/TACP/SR candidates. Standards can be revised; confirm the current worksheet with your recruiter.
What are the IFT standards for EOD, SERE, and officer candidates?+
The same worksheet covers them: EOD (3E8) tests only pull-ups (3) and the 1.5-mile run (11:00) with no swims. SERE (1T0) requires 8 pull-ups, 48 sit-ups, 40 push-ups, and an 11:00 1.5-mile, no swims. Officer routes (STO/CRO and TACPO) are harder: 12 pull-ups in 1 minute, 75 sit-ups, 64 push-ups, a 3-mile run in 22:00, and for STO/CRO a 1500-meter surface swim in 32:00 (TACPO swims 500m in 12:30).
How long do you have between IFT events?+
The worksheet fixes the sequence and rests: pull-ups, 2-minute rest, sit-ups, 2-minute rest, push-ups, 10-minute rest, the run, 30-minute rest, then the two underwater swims on 3-minute cycles, followed by the surface swim. Candidates must pass every component in one uninterrupted evaluation — and enlisted candidates must pass an IFT within 60 calendar days before entering active duty or initial skills training.
Are IFT minimums enough to get selected?+
No. The minimum is a contracting floor, and candidates at the floor rarely survive Assessment & Selection, which washes out roughly half of IFT passers. Working targets among successful candidates: 20+ pull-ups, 80+ push-ups, a sub-9:00 1.5-mile, and a 500m swim under 10 minutes.
Why do most candidates fail the IFT?+
The water. Land events can be trained anywhere, but the two 25-meter underwater swims and the 500-meter surface swim expose candidates who never trained in a pool. Underwater confidence work with a qualified supervisor — never alone — is the highest-priority preparation for most applicants.
How is the IFT different from the regular Air Force PT test?+
Completely different tests. The PFRA is a scored 100-point health assessment (run/HAMR, WHtR, push-ups, core). The IFT is a pass/fail gate with six events including swims and pull-ups, no point interpolation, and no age or gender adjustment of note at the contracting stage. Passing the PFRA says you are fit for service; passing the IFT says you may begin the special warfare pipeline.
How long should I train before taking the IFT?+
Plan on six to twelve months of deliberate preparation if you are starting from average fitness — this is not a test you cram for in four weeks. Swimming skill and running volume take the longest to build safely; rushing either is how candidates get injured or fail the water events.
Related Articles — USAF PT Reference Guides
★ What Is the New PT Test?March 2026 PFRA overhaul breakdown for beginners★ How to Train for PFRA12-week phased training plan per DAFMAN 36-2905★ PT Exemptions & ProfilesComplete guide to medical waivers, pregnancy & deployment rules★ 2026 PT StandardsComplete PFRA guide under DAFMAN 36-2905★ Female PT Charts 2026Female-only scoring tables — all components★ 2-Mile Run StandardsRun standards summary by age & gender
Independent resource·Uses published Air Force fitness scoring guidance·Last reviewed: June 2026·About & methodology·Official source
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