Alongside ribbons, medals and patches that honor outstanding service in combat, the United States Army awards the Physical Fitness Badge to men and women who excel during the Army Physical Fitness Test. Passing the APFT is no walk in the part -- the test includes pushups, situps and a 2-mile run -- but you need to meet even more stringent regulations to get a Physical Fitness Badge.
Scoring Regulations
To pass the APFT, you must score 60 points on each event -- pushup, situps and running -- for a cumulative total of at least 180 points. However, Section 8-51 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 says that, due to standards established in 1999, you'll have to reach a minimum of 90 points per event and a total score of at least 270 to receive the Army Physical Fitness Badge.
Badge Placement Regulations
The Physical Fitness Badge is the only insignia that the Army authorizes for wear exclusively on the physical fitness uniform and improved physical fitness uniform, commonly called the PFU and IPFU. According to Army Regulation 670-1, Section 14-5, the badge must be sewn on the upper-left front side of the PFU and IPFU tee and the PFU sweatshirt. On the IPFU running jacket, the badge resides 1/2 inch above the word “Army.”
Badge Constructions Regulations
Like all Army awards, the Physical Fitness Badge is constructed to meet specific regulations. In this case, the Code of Federal Regulations Title 32, Section 578.101 lays out the details. The dark blue, disc-shaped cloth badge measures 2 5/8 inches in diameter, including 1 5/8 inches of artwork surrounded by a 1/8-inch border. The badge sports a yellow arm placed in front of the United States coat of arms. Six stars, three on each side, accent the figure, which stands before 13 red and white stripes. The words “Physical Fitness Excellence” recognize the achievements of its recipients.
More to Consider
The Physical Fitness Badge traces its history back to 1986, when the then-serving Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, Jr. first established it. Despite the rigorous standards, you have to meet to get the Physical Fitness Badge; you do not to have permanent orders to receive this award. While Army Regulations 600-8-22 and 670-1 detail regulations pertaining directly to the Army Physical Fitness Badge, DA Form 705, the Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard, features a complete breakdown of APFT standards. This info, divided into gender and age groups, might come in handy if you're shooting for the badge.
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Writer Bio
Dan Ketchum has been a professional writer since 2003, with work appearing online and offline in Word Riot, Bazooka Magazine, Anemone Sidecar, Trails and more. Dan's diverse professional background spans from costume design and screenwriting to mixology, manual labor and video game industry publicity.