OPAT / 2026 Overview
Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT)
2026 events, physical-demand categories, calculator, and training
The Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) is a four-event pre-training assessment used to determine whether recruits and cadet candidates meet the physical-demand category required for their military occupational specialty or area of concentration.
The OPAT measures lower-body power, upper-body power, lower-body strength, and aerobic endurance through the Standing Long Jump, Seated Power Throw, Strength Deadlift, and Interval Aerobic Run.
Key facts
2026 OPAT at a glance
The OPAT is completed as one four-event assessment. The first three events may be performed in any order, but the Interval Aerobic Run is performed last.
4Events
≤ 1 hourComplete the full OPAT
Same dayAll four events
Up to 5 minRecovery between events
IAR lastFirst three may be completed in any order
90 daysMaximum result validity
Required category
Find your required OPAT category
Search the Army’s published OPAT physical-demand category for an enlisted MOS, officer AOC, or warrant-officer specialty.
Categories
Gold, Gray, and Black OPAT categories
Your OPAT category is the highest category for which all four event results meet the published thresholds.
The events
The 4 OPAT Events
The OPAT measures lower-body power, upper-body power, lower-body strength, and aerobic endurance through the Standing Long Jump, Seated Power Throw, Strength Deadlift, and Interval Aerobic Run. The first three events may be completed in any order; the Interval Aerobic Run is performed last.
01
Standing Long Jump
SLJ
- Result
- Best valid distance in centimeters
- Physical quality
- Lower-body power
- Sequence
- Any order before IAR
U.S. Army National Guard photo · Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler · DVIDS source
02
Seated Power Throw
PWT
- Result
- Best valid throw distance in centimeters
- Physical quality
- Upper-body power
- Sequence
- Any order before IAR
U.S. Army National Guard photo · Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler · DVIDS source
03
Strength Deadlift
SDL
- Result
- Completed load in pounds
- Physical quality
- Lower-body strength
- Sequence
- Any order before IAR
U.S. Army National Guard photo · Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler · DVIDS source
04
Interval Aerobic Run
IAR
- Result
- Last successful level/shuttle plus total successful shuttles
- Physical quality
- Aerobic endurance
- Sequence
- Must be last
U.S. Army National Guard photo · Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler · DVIDS source
Next steps
Find → Check → Train
Find Your Required Category
Look up the published OPAT physical-demand category for your MOS, AOC, or warrant-officer specialty.
Find requirementCheck Your Four Results
Enter the four OPAT results to see the highest Gold, Gray, or Black category you meet.
Open calculatorTrain the Limiting Event
Use the calculator gaps to see which events still need improvement, then open the matching training guide.
Open training guidesOPAT and AFT
OPAT and AFT serve different purposes
The OPAT is a pre-training occupational assessment. The AFT is the Army’s current physical fitness assessment for trained Soldiers.
OPAT
- Pre-training occupational assessment
- Recruits and cadet candidates
- 4 events
- Gold / Gray / Black physical-demand categories
- Requirement depends on occupational specialty
AFT
- Current Army physical fitness assessment
- Trained Soldiers
- 5 scored events
- Event scores and total score
- Separate Army fitness requirement
ATP 7-22.01 treats Soldiers with more than six months of service, or Soldiers who have completed a record AFT, as trained Soldiers rather than routine OPAT candidates.
View AFT OverviewResources
OPAT resources
EventsReview full test-day format, attempts, valid results, and common questions for all four OPAT events.StandardsCompare Gold, Gray, and Black event thresholds and OPAT administration rules.CalculatorEnter all four results and identify the highest published OPAT category met.TrainingOpen event-specific preparation guides for the four OPAT events.
Official references
Official Army sources
These current Army sources support the OPAT administration rules, event standards, occupational categories, and applicability used on this page.
Sources
U.S. Army · ATP 7-22.01 · Holistic Health and Fitness Testing Effective March 12, 2026 · Verified Sep 28, 2026U.S. Army H2F · Physical Domain · Occupational Physical Assessment Test Verified Sep 28, 2026U.S. Army · 10-2-1. Enlisted OPAT Physical Demands Categories Published December 4, 2025 · Verified Sep 28, 2026U.S. Army · 3-1-1. Officer OPAT Physical Demands Categories Published December 4, 2025 · Verified Sep 28, 2026U.S. Army · Chapter 8 · Warrant Officer Physical Demands Categories Published November 20, 2024 · Verified Sep 28, 2026U.S. Army Recruiting Command · USAREC Manual 3-32 · The Army Recruiter (admin. rev. Mar. 26, 2026) Published March 9, 2022 · Verified Sep 28, 2026