Pass or fail, event by event
This is the structural difference worth understanding before you look at any number. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force all produce a total or a composite, and a strong event can carry a weak one some distance. The Coast Guard PFT does not. Each event is measured against a single threshold for your age and sex, and you either meet it or you do not.
Being outstanding at two events buys you nothing on the third. Training has to bring every event over its own line, and the one closest to the line is the one that decides the test.
Minimums by age and sex
Push-ups and the forearm plank are fixed events. The cardio event is chosen from three options, covered in the next section.
| Age | Push-ups (M) | Plank (M) | Run (M) | Push-ups (F) | Plank (F) | Run (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 29 | 1:18 | 12:29 | 15 | 1:09 | 15:05 |
| 30–39 | 24 | 1:15 | 12:53 | 11 | 1:06 | 15:56 |
| 40–49 | 18 | 1:12 | 13:50 | 9 | 1:03 | 17:11 |
| 50–59 | 13 | 1:09 | 15:14 | 9 | 1:01 | 19:10 |
| 60+ | 10 | 1:07 | 17:19 | 9 | 0:58 | 20:55 |
The three cardio options
The 1.5-mile run, a 12-minute swim scored on distance covered, or a 2,000-metre row scored on time. They are separate standards, not conversions — the swim is the only one where a larger number is better.
| Age | Run (M) | 12-min swim (M) | 2,000 m row (M) | Run (F) | 12-min swim (F) | 2,000 m row (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 12:29 | 500 yds | 9:20 | 15:05 | 400 yds | 10:40 |
| 30–39 | 12:53 | 450 yds | 9:30 | 15:56 | 350 yds | 10:50 |
| 40–49 | 13:50 | 400 yds | 9:40 | 17:11 | 300 yds | 11:00 |
| 50–59 | 15:14 | 350 yds | 9:50 | 19:10 | 250 yds | 11:10 |
| 60+ | 17:19 | 300 yds | 10:00 | 20:55 | 200 yds | 11:20 |
When and who
From 1 July 2026 the PFT is mandatory for all active duty and Selected Reserve members, taken twice per year. That is a change: it applies service-wide rather than to specific populations, so members who have not previously been tested on a fixed cycle now are.
Common questions
What is the passing score on the Coast Guard PFT?
There is no score. Each of the three events — push-ups, the forearm plank and one cardio event — is pass or fail on its own against a threshold for your age and sex. Failing any single event fails the test, and strong performance elsewhere cannot compensate.
Source: COMDTINST 16114.33F Table 4-3 (eff 1 Jul 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
What cardio options does the Coast Guard PFT allow?
The 1.5-mile run, a 12-minute swim scored on the distance covered, or a 2,000-metre row scored on time. The run and row are maximum times to beat; the swim is a minimum distance to reach.
Source: COMDTINST 16114.33F Table 4-3 (eff 1 Jul 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
How often do Coast Guard members take the PFT?
Twice per year. From 1 July 2026 it is mandatory for all active duty and Selected Reserve members.
Source: COMDTINST 16114.33F Table 4-3 (eff 1 Jul 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
Is the Coast Guard PFT harder than other services’ tests?
Not necessarily in the thresholds, but it is less forgiving in structure. Every other service produces a total or composite where a strong event can offset a weak one. The Coast Guard scores each event independently, so the weakest event decides the result.
Source: COMDTINST 16114.33F Table 4-3 (eff 1 Jul 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026