Last reviewed: August 2026
Source & editorial methodology: This independent guide is based on current U.S. Marine Corps publications, Human Performance Branch standards modules, official Marine Corps administrative messages, and MCO 6100.13A W/ADMIN CH-5. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Marine Corps or the U.S. Department of Defense. Because CFT standards and administrative guidance can change, official Marine Corps sources should always be checked before an official record test.
If you want to convert your event times and lift repetitions into points right now, use our USMC CFT Calculator — it applies official age, sex, and altitude scoring tables automatically.
USMC Combat Fitness Test Scoring, Standards and Events
The USMC Combat Fitness Test measures performance in three events: Movement to Contact, Ammunition Lift, and Maneuver Under Fire. The calculator uses your event results, age, sex, and relevant altitude information to estimate a total CFT score and classification. This explanation covers the pass requirements, current class ranges, event inputs, and important scoring conditions.
What Is the USMC Combat Fitness Test?
The CFT is a Marine Corps fitness assessment focused on combat-related functional performance. It is separate from the Physical Fitness Test, although both tests are governed by Marine Corps fitness standards. CFT scoring uses age- and sex-specific standards for the three events, so the same raw performance can produce different points under different scoring tables.
How Is the USMC CFT Scored?
Each event contributes up to 100 points, giving the CFT a maximum total of 300 points. The cumulative score corresponds to one of these classifications:
| CFT Classification | Total Score |
|---|---|
| First Class | 235–300[3] |
| Second Class | 200–234[3] |
| Third Class | 150–199[3] |
| Unqualified by cumulative score | 0–149[3] |
Third Class, from 150 to 199 points, is a passing classification provided the minimum requirement is met in every event. A cumulative score of 150 or more does not automatically produce a passing CFT if one event falls below its required minimum.[3][4]
Each event has a 40-point minimum. Failing to meet the minimum in any event fails the entire CFT, regardless of the cumulative total.[2][4]
The two requirements work together:
`40 + 40 + 40 = 120`
Meeting the minimum in all three events produces only 120 points. A Marine therefore needs at least 30 additional points above those three minimums, distributed across one or more events, to reach the 150-point cumulative passing threshold.[3][4]
The current class ranges trace back to the Marine Corps' 2018 scoring change. Before that change, the passing threshold was 120 points and Third Class covered 120–199. The Marine Corps raised the cumulative minimum to 150 and changed Third Class to 150–199; First Class and Second Class remained unchanged.[3]
The Three CFT Events
| Event | Performance Measure | Calculator Input |
|---|---|---|
| Movement to Contact (MTC) | Completion time | Minutes and seconds |
| Ammunition Lift (AL/ACL) | Completed repetitions | Number of lifts |
| Maneuver Under Fire (MANUF) | Completion time | Minutes and seconds |
Movement to Contact (MTC)
Movement to Contact is an 880-yard timed event. The result is entered as a completion time and scored against the applicable age- and sex-specific table. The Marine Corps also provides an altitude-adjusted scoring table for this event.[1][5]
Ammunition Lift / Ammo Can Lifts
The CFT ammunition can weighs 30 pounds. The event consists of repeatedly lifting the can from shoulder height to overhead, with repetitions determining the score. The event is commonly described as a two-minute lift, and the official calculator treats the result as a repetition input.[6]
The governing order calls the event Ammunition Lift (AL). The official HQMC calculator displays it as Ammo Can Lifts (ACL). Both labels refer to the same CFT event.[1][5]
Ammunition Lift uses age- and sex-specific scoring, but it does not use an altitude-adjusted scoring table.[1][5]
Maneuver Under Fire (MANUF)
Maneuver Under Fire is a 300-yard combat-oriented course combining timed movement with tasks such as sprinting, crawling, casualty movement, ammunition-can movement, and a grenade-related component.[6] Completion time is the scoring input, and the event uses age- and sex-specific scoring. An altitude-adjusted scoring table is also provided for MANUF.[1][5]
Does Altitude Affect a CFT Score?
The Marine Corps provides altitude-adjusted scoring for two CFT events, not all three:[1][5]
| Event | Altitude-Adjusted Scoring? |
|---|---|
| Movement to Contact | Yes |
| Ammunition Lift | No |
| Maneuver Under Fire | Yes |
The altitude threshold is approximately 4,500 feet or higher. Ammunition Lift does not use an altitude-adjusted scoring table, unlike Movement to Contact and Maneuver Under Fire.[1][5]
Altitude should therefore affect the scoring-table selection for MTC and MANUF, but not Ammunition Lift.
How Age and Sex Affect CFT Scoring
The official scoring tables use these age bands:[2]
- 17–20
- 21–25
- 26–30
- 31–35
- 36–40
- 41–45
- 46–50
- 51+
Separate male and female scoring tables apply to the CFT events.[2]
Age and sex determine which official scoring table applies to each performance. The tool should use these inputs to select the relevant scoring standard rather than requiring users to search through the scoring tables manually.
CFT vs. PFT
The CFT and PFT are separate Marine Corps assessments with different purposes and event sets.
| Feature | CFT | PFT |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Combat-related functional fitness | General physical fitness |
| Events | MTC, Ammunition Lift, MANUF | Separate PFT event set |
| Scoring | CFT-specific tables | Separate PFT tables |
This page explains CFT scoring only. A PFT result should be evaluated using the separate PFT standards and tables. If you need to calculate your Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test score, use our dedicated USMC PFT Calculator.
CFT Scoring Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming 150 total points automatically means a pass. Every event must also meet its 40-point minimum.[4]
- Using the historical 120-point threshold. The current cumulative passing minimum is 150 points.[3]
- Applying altitude-adjusted scoring to Ammunition Lift. Altitude-adjusted tables apply to MTC and MANUF, not Ammunition Lift.[1][5]
- Using the wrong age or sex table. The applicable scoring table depends on the recorded demographic inputs.[2]
Key Takeaways
- The CFT consists of Movement to Contact, Ammunition Lift, and Maneuver Under Fire.
- Each event is worth up to 100 points, for a maximum total of 300.
- Passing requires at least 150 cumulative points and at least 40 points in every event.
- Failing one event minimum fails the entire CFT, even when the total score is high.
- Meeting three 40-point minimums produces 120 points, so at least 30 additional points are needed to reach 150.
- Altitude-adjusted scoring applies to MTC and MANUF, not Ammunition Lift.
- The governing order uses Ammunition Lift (AL), while the official calculator also uses Ammo Can Lifts (ACL).
How We Checked This Guide
The current consolidated Marine Corps Order 6100.13A with Admin Change 5 was reviewed as the governing document for this guide. The CFT classification history was also checked against MARADMIN 587/18 and MARADMIN 539/18, including the change from the former 120-point cumulative threshold to the current 150-point requirement.
The current CH-5 document establishes the latest consolidated version of the order; the present CFT classification ranges originate from the Marine Corps' 2018 scoring changes rather than from CH-5 itself. Official Marine Corps scoring materials were prioritized, with secondary military references used only for limited descriptive event details.
ToolsForEveryTask.online is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three USMC CFT events?
The three events are Movement to Contact, Ammunition Lift, and Maneuver Under Fire.
What is the maximum USMC CFT score?
The maximum CFT score is 300 points, with up to 100 points available from each of the three events.
How much does the CFT ammo can weigh?
The ammunition can used for the CFT Ammunition Lift weighs 30 pounds.
What is a First Class CFT score?
A cumulative CFT score of 235 to 300 points is First Class.
What is the difference between the CFT and PFT?
The CFT measures combat-related functional fitness through Movement to Contact, Ammunition Lift, and Maneuver Under Fire. The PFT uses a different event set and separate scoring tables.
Does altitude affect CFT scoring?
Yes, for two events. Movement to Contact and Maneuver Under Fire use altitude-adjusted scoring at approximately 4,500 feet or higher. Ammunition Lift does not use an altitude-adjusted scoring table.
Sources & References
- U.S. Marine Corps — MCO 6100.13A W/Admin CH-5: Marine Corps Physical Fitness and Combat Fitness Tests (PFT/CFT) (28 May 2025)
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCO%206100.13A%20W%20ADMIN%20CH-5%20(SECURED).pdf.pdf)
- U.S. Marine Corps Fitness Division — Table 3-3: MTC Scoring Tables
- U.S. Marine Corps — MARADMIN 587/18: Change to Composite Score Point Scale and Classification Scores for CFT and PFT (11 October 2018)
- U.S. Marine Corps — MARADMIN 539/18: Notice of Forthcoming Changes to the Physical Fitness Test and Combat Fitness Test (24 September 2018)
- Headquarters Marine Corps — Official PFT/CFT Calculator
https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Portals/211/FitnessCalc/calcmini.html
- Military.com — Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT)