The United States Space Force has outlined how it plans to evaluate physical readiness across its workforce from 2026, providing clarity on assessment timing, scoring and how fitness data will be used.
The update forms part of the service’s broader Holistic Health Approach, which brings together physical conditioning, preventive health and resilience under a single readiness framework.
How The New System Will Work
From the start of 2026, all Guardians will take part in two structured physical evaluations each year. The requirement applies universally, including to personnel already participating in ongoing fitness monitoring programmes.
The approach follows directions issued by the Secretary of War in late 2025 and establishes a standard assessment rhythm across the force.
Rather than focusing on a single measure, the evaluations are designed to capture different aspects of physical capability, including aerobic capacity, muscular performance, core endurance and body composition.
What Changes For Guardians
Running-based assessments will remain central to evaluating cardiovascular fitness, with a longer-distance run required at least once per year. Strength and endurance will be assessed through a range of upper-body and core exercises, while body composition will be measured using proportional metrics rather than weight alone.
Fitness outcomes will also take on a more visible role. From February 2026, results will be reflected on officer and enlisted performance briefs, integrating physical readiness into formal career documentation.
Continuous Fitness And Data Collection
Outside scheduled evaluations, the Space Force will continue to require regular physical activity from all Guardians. Its Continuous Fitness Assessment model prioritises steady participation in exercise rather than short-term preparation for specific test dates.
Data supporting this approach is being gathered through a study launched in October 2025 that examines how physical readiness standards can be refined while encouraging long-term health habits. More than 7,300 Guardians joined during the first participation window, with further enrolment planned for early 2026. Findings from the study will continue to inform the service’s readiness model.
Health Beyond Physical Testing
Physical fitness represents only one element of the Holistic Health Approach. The framework also includes prevention-focused public health efforts aimed at strengthening community well-being and supporting healthy behaviours across all eight domains of Total Force Fitness.
Much of this work is delivered by Guardian Resilience Teams. These multidisciplinary groups operate across Space Force installations, training locations and through virtual support for geographically separated and remote units, providing prevention-focused assistance at the individual, unit, family and community levels.
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Published by Kerry Harrison
Kerry’s been writing professionally for over 14 years, after graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Multimedia Journalism from Canterbury Christ Church University. She joined Orbital Today in 2022. She covers everything from UK launch updates to how the wider space ecosystem is evolving. She enjoys digging into the detail and explaining complex topics in a way that feels straightforward. Before writing about space, Kerry spent years working with cybersecurity companies. She’s written a lot about threat intelligence, data protection, and how cyber and space are increasingly overlapping, whether that’s satellite security or national defence. With a strong background in tech writing, she’s used to making tricky, technical subjects more approachable. That mix of innovation, complexity, and real-world impact is what keeps her interested in the space sector.
