Navy
To join the Navy, a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA) is no longer a requirement for Navy roles, unless you want to be a Diver or Physical Training Instructor.
However, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements once you join. Regular exercise before joining will set you up for success as it’s an important part of training and service life.
After you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. You’ll also need to stay fit as part of your job and do regular fitness assessments.
During Initial Military Training, you will be required to complete a 2.4km run or shuttle run alongside a Core Strength test.
Shuttle run score
One component of the in-service fitness requirements is the Shuttle run (also known as the beep test). To see what score you will need to pass, see the below minimum scores:
Male:
- Under 29: 7.4
- 30-34: 7.2
- Age 35 –39: 6.10
- Age 40-44: 6.8
- Age 44-49: 6.6
- Age 50-54: 6.4
- Age 54-59: 6.2
- Over 60: 5.9
Female:
- Under 29: 6.9
- 30-34: 6.6
- Age 35 –39: 6.4
- Age 40-44: 6.2
- Age 44-49: 5.9
- Age 50-54: 5.7
- Age 54-59: 5.4
- Over 60: 5.2
2.4km Run standards
As a part of the fitness requirements, you’ll need to make sure you can meet the Navy Run standards. Depending on your age and gender, the minimum time to pass will change. To pass, the minimum time standards for the 2.4km run are:
Male:
- Under 29: <13 minutes
- Age 30-34: <14 minutes
- Age 35-39: <14 minutes and 30 seconds
- Age 40-44: <15 minutes
- Age 45-49: <15 minutes and 40 seconds
- Age 50-54: <16 minutes and 15 seconds
- Age 55-59: <17 minutes
- Over 60+: <18 minutes and 20 seconds
Female:
- Under 29: <15 minutes
- Age 30-34: <15 minutes and 45 seconds
- Age 35-39: <16 minutes and 20 seconds
- Age 40-44: <17 minutes
- Age 45-49: <17 minutes and 15 seconds
- Age 50-54: <17 minutes and 40 seconds
- Age 55-59: <18 minutes
- Over 60+: <19 minutes and 25 seconds
Core strength test
As a part of your in-service fitness requirements, you are required to complete a core strength test. You must be able to do a Forearm plank for a minimum of 1 minute.
- Forearm plank: Minimum 1 minute.
The Navy swim test
During Navy Military Training, you'll need to pass a swim test to graduate. Whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, it involves all the components below:
- safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- treading water or floating for 15 minutes.
Note: You will be wearing your Navy uniform during the swim test.
