RAF · Serving
RAF fitness test: what is the in-service RAFFT after the 2024 changes?
The Royal Air Force Fitness Test is the annual in-service test, separate from the Pre-Joining Fitness Test taken to join. Around November 2024 it dropped press-ups and sit-ups for a grip-strength dynamometer and a standing broad jump alongside the multi-stage fitness test — the only cohort with a publicly confirmed post-2024 standard is men aged 17 to 29.
Verified 2026-09-07 against MOD FOI disclosure — AP 3342 Section 4 Leaflet 402 Annex I (RAFFT standards, pre-Nov 2024).
The pass mark
20 m multi-stage fitness test (MSFT)
9:1
Post-Nov-2024 standard for men 17-29 — the only cohort publicly confirmed. All other cohorts' post-2024 MSFT standard is not publicly published; see 'Good to know' below for the superseded pre-Nov-2024 table.
Grip dynamometer
39 kg (men 17-29 only)
Pass/fail. Post-Nov-2024 addition, replacing sit-ups. Not publicly published for any other cohort.
Standing broad jump
1.60 m (men 17-29 only)
Two-footed take-off and landing, stick the landing, measured to the heels, two attempts. Post-Nov-2024 addition, replacing press-ups. Not publicly published for any other cohort.
Alternatives
Rockport Walk
Aerobic alternative to the MSFT for age 40+ and for sickle cell trait.
Good to know
The entry test hasn't changed
This page covers the in-service RAFFT only. The Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) used to join the RAF — a 2.4 km treadmill run — is unaffected by the 2024 RAFFT changes.
Order and currency
Reported test order is MSFT, then grip, then the standing broad jump, with minimal rest between them. A pass is reported to stay current for 1 year (3 years with a clear margin, 5 years for an exemplary result) — none of this is confirmed against an officially published policy.
Superseded MSFT standard (all cohorts, pre-Nov 2024)
The RAFFT's MSFT-only table before the Nov 2024 change, by age band (male / female): 17-29 9:10 / 7:2 · 30-34 9:4 / 6:8 · 35-39 8:9 / 6:4 · 40-44 8:3 / 5:8 · 45-49 7:7 / 5:4 · 50-54 7:1 / 4:9. Verified against the MOD FOI-disclosed AP 3342 scan; kept here for reference only — it no longer applies.
Common questions
What level is the RAF (RAFFT) bleep test?
20 m multi-stage fitness test (MSFT) to level 9:1 (Post-Nov-2024 standard for men 17-29 — the only cohort publicly confirmed. All other cohorts' post-2024 MSFT standard is not publicly published; see 'Good to know' below for the superseded pre-Nov-2024 table.).
When do I take the RAF (RAFFT)?
Annually, once serving. Separate from the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) used at entry.
How many attempts do I get?
Reported (not officially published) as: fail leads to a personalised reconditioning plan, then a retest in 12 weeks.
Train it yourself
Some of RAF (RAFFT) doesn't fit a normal training session. Here's what to do for each part.
Vargr builds a plan back from your test dateandSteelRep logs your lifting.
Grip dynamometer
A dynamometer squeeze is a five-second peak-grip test — there's no 40-minute session built around it.
Bolt heavy farmer's walks or loaded carries for time onto the end of two or three sessions a week, 3-5 sets. Add dead hangs from a bar, working toward 30-45 second holds, and finish your last set of any pulling exercise with a thick-bar or towel hold. Stop each set before your grip fails completely.
Standing broad jump
A standing broad jump is a single explosive-power skill, not something an endurance or strength session builds on its own.
Once or twice a week, practise the jump itself — two-footed take-off, stick the landing, 5-6 reps with full recovery. Add box jumps or squat jumps to a session for the same power carryover. Do these fresh, at the start of a session, never after a hard run or lift.