Beep Test Military Standards
Shuttle-run standards for military entry — British Army and international forces, plus how the US military tests fitness.
Practice with the Free Beep Test App →British Army & UK Military
The British Army has largely moved away from the beep test for entry. Regular soldier selection now runs on the Role Fitness Test (Entry), built around a 2km run rather than a shuttle run. The multi-stage fitness test still appears at officer selection, where the published minimum is level 8.7. What the British Army actually tests now →
The RAF is a separate case again. Its pre-joining fitness test is a 2.4km treadmill run, and the bleep test turns up at officer selection and in the annual test serving personnel sit, where the RAF publishes levels by age and sex. RAF bleep test standards →
Standards across the UK forces have been revised repeatedly, and third-party figures lag behind. Rather than quote a number that may be out of date, verify the current requirement for your chosen role directly with the service before you test.
US Military Fitness Testing
The US military does not use the beep test as an entry standard. Each branch runs its own fitness test built around a timed run:
- Army (AFT): 2-mile run, deadlift, hand-release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, and plank
- Navy (PRT): 1.5-mile run, push-ups, and a forearm plank (with swim and cycle alternatives)
- Marines (PFT): 3-mile run, pull-ups, and a plank
- Air Force: 1.5-mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups
The 20-meter shuttle run shows up only as an occasional alternate cardio option in a few programs, never as the primary standard. Even so, the beep test is one of the best ways to build the aerobic base those timed runs reward — train your level up and your run times follow.
Australian Defence Force (ADF)
Where the ADF still runs a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA), the shuttle run is part of it, alongside push-ups and sit-ups. Whether you sit one at all now depends on the service and role: ADF Careers says most Navy roles no longer require a PFA, with Diver and Physical Training Instructor the exceptions. These figures are published by ADF Careers; some specialist roles require higher.
| Service / Role | Required level |
|---|---|
| Army — General Entry (Combat) & Officer | 7.5 |
| Army — General Entry (Combat Support) | 6.1 |
| Army — Special Forces | 10.1 |
| Air Force — most roles | 6.1 (male) / 5.1 (female) |
| Navy — most entry roles | No PFA required |
| Navy — Diver | 10.1 |
| Navy — Physical Training Instructor | 10.1 (male) / 8.5 (female) |
Source: ADF Careers, fitness requirements for joining the ADF, checked 18 September 2026. Standards are subject to change, so verify with Defence Force Recruiting before your assessment.
The full picture, including the push-up and sit-up counts that go with each shuttle run score, the Air Force Security Forces and Physical Training Instructor standards, and what each level works out to in shuttles, metres and minutes, is on the ADF beep test page.
Training for Military Fitness Tests
Military fitness standards — especially for combat arms and special forces — demand serious aerobic fitness. At Level 10.1 (13.0 km/h), you're covering each 20m shuttle in about 5.5 seconds — that's a demanding pace to sustain. Get comfortable running 30+ minutes at threshold pace before attempting the test. The beep test is often just one component alongside push-ups, sit-ups, and timed runs. Train for all components together — isolating beep test prep while ignoring push-ups and timed runs will leave gaps on test day.
For general entry (around Level 6–7.5), a 6–8 week interval program is usually sufficient for those with a basic fitness foundation. For special forces (Level 10+), expect 3–6 months of dedicated high-volume training. Expect to feel genuinely uncomfortable in the final 2–3 levels — that's normal. The test is designed to push you to your limit.