New Air Force Fitness Requirements More Strict

The Air Force will begin enforcing its new fitness standards on July 1; however, testing will begin January 1. The last major change to the fitness standards took place in 2005, when the Air Force began to incorporate pushups, sit-ups, body circumference measurements and a 1.5-mile run into its physical fitness assessment. The 2010 changes do not remove any of these testing tools; rather, they enhance them and make the requirements tougher.

Testing Cycles. Testing will now be twice a year. Air Force Reserve members will have their first test 12 months after their last test; the next one will start six months later. Testing will be conducted at a central location called the Fitness Assessment Cell.

Passing Requirements. Under the old system, an airman could have really good scores during the pushups, sit-ups and run but have a 40 inch waste and still pass. The new Air Force Fitness Program will require a minimum score in each category in addition to the overall composite score of 75. Minimum requirements will be applied to specific gender and age groups, which are now in 10-year brackets vs. five-year brackets. The maximum waist measurement in all age groups for males is 39 inches, while female limits are 35.5 inches.

Point Distribution and Patches. The composite scoring brackets are still the same: below 75 is "unsatisfactory," while 75 to 89.9 is considered "good." Sixty percent of the composite score will come from aerobic fitness, 20 percent is from body composition, and 10 percent is attributed to push-ups and sit-ups each.

Essentially, a 25-year-old male airman with a 32-inch inch waist, a 14-minute run, 41 pushups and 41 sit-ups would score an 80 under the old system, which is passing. In the new system, he would fail. The run time maximum for under 30 is 13:36; the sit-up minimum is 42. His total composition score would have been 71.8. That's a failure at three levels.

Scores that are 90 and above are considered "excellent" and can qualify for a special PT uniform "excellent" patch. Four scores of 90 over a continuous two-year period qualify for a "Sustained Excellence" patch. "Maximum Performer" is awarded to anyone with a current score of 100, while "Sustained Maximum" is awarded to those who have four 100s over a continuous two-year period. If your TI is wearing this patch when you enter basic training, prepare to work hard.

Bike Test Gone. A large-sample assessment showed that 40 percent of ergo tests had invalidated scores. The ergonomic bike test is now done away with as an alternative Air Force Fitness Test. It is now replaced by a one-mile walk. A formula incorporating weight, age, gender and time will be used to calculate the member's VO2 max. That score will determine the fitness level.