Always verify requirements directly with ADF Recruiting. Standards and assessment components change and vary by role and service branch.
The Australian Defence Force uses the beep test as a core component of the ADF Fitness Assessment (ADFA). The test is used alongside push-ups, sit-ups and a timed run — the beep test is one component of a broader physical fitness assessment.
Entry Minimums by Service
Australian Army (Male)
General entry minimum. Recommended training target: level 7.5 or above.
Australian Army (Female)
General entry minimum. Recommended training target: level 6.5 or above.
Royal Australian Navy
Role-specific additions apply. Confirm current requirements with ADF Recruiting.
Royal Australian Air Force
Baseline requirements plus additional fitness components depending on role.
The Full ADF Fitness Assessment
The beep test is one component of the broader ADF Fitness Assessment (ADFA). The full assessment typically includes:
Push-ups: minimum repetitions within a set time, with a standards table adjusted by age and gender. Sit-ups: similarly timed, with age and gender adjustments. The beep test: the aerobic component, assessed as described above. 2.4 km run: used in some contexts as a secondary or substitute aerobic measure. The specific components used can vary slightly by service branch and role, so always confirm the exact assessment format with ADF Recruiting for your branch and role.
Navy and Air Force Specifics
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) use the ADF fitness assessment framework but may have role-specific additions. Aircrew roles in the RAAF, for example, require additional medical and physical assessments that go beyond the standard fitness assessment. The beep test minimum is consistent across the three services at the general entry level.
Diving and submarine roles in the Navy carry additional physical requirements. If you are applying for roles with specific environmental demands — working at depth, extreme temperatures, physical confinement — the standard beep test minimum is a floor, not a ceiling. These roles informally expect candidates to be performing well above the minimum.
Special Forces Requirements
Selection for the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and other ADF special operations units is a separate process from regular ADF entry, with significantly higher physical standards. Published guidance for candidates preparing for SASR selection suggests that aerobic capacity well above the general ADF minimum is a prerequisite. Candidates typically train for 12 to 18 months before attempting selection, with beep test scores in the 12 to 14 range as a realistic goal to aim for before beginning the selection preparation phase.
This level of preparation is far beyond what the standard 6 week plan provides. If you are targeting special forces selection, use the standard plan as a foundation and build significantly beyond it with longer cycles and progressive overload over a 6 to 12 month period.
Training to Meet the Standard
The ADF entry minimums are achievable for most active adults with 6 to 8 weeks of targeted preparation. However, the ADF makes clear that candidates performing well above the minimum are viewed more favourably during selection.
The recommended approach is to train to exceed the minimum, not just reach it. For male candidates, targeting level 7.5 or above is sensible. For female candidates, level 6.5 or above. This gives you a genuine buffer on test day and demonstrates the commitment to physical fitness that the ADF values in candidates.
The 6 week training plan on this site will take most candidates from a reasonable aerobic base to above the entry minimum. If you are starting from a lower base, allow 8 to 10 weeks. For candidates who have been sedentary for a significant period, adding 4 to 6 weeks of base aerobic running before beginning the shuttle-specific training plan produces better results than attempting the plan from a very low starting point.