U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong ()
WASHINGTON (AFNS) – The Air Force will officially add new alternative components to physical fitness assessments beginning Jan. 1.
After announcing the components in July, over 9,000 data points were collected to determine point values for each component by assessing approximately 2,000 Airmen from 23 installations. Updated scoring charts can be found here.
Airmen will have the choice to perform these options to meet the strength and cardiovascular requirements:
CARDIO
Traditional 1.5-mile Run
High Aerobic Multi-shuttle Run (20M HAMR)
STRENGTH
Traditional Push-ups
Hand Release Push-ups
SIT-UPS
Traditional Sit-ups
Cross-Leg Reverse Crunch
Plank
“While testing these components at various installations, we received a large amount of positive feedback,” said Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. “The changes to the physical fitness assessments reflect what we learned and our desire to provide Airmen with additional flexibility in maintaining fitness standards.”
Airmen can schedule their assessment and sign up for their desired cardio option via myFitness, which will be available for scheduling starting Dec. 10. While members can select their desired cardio option when scheduling their assessment, they will select their desired strength components at the time of their assessments.
The Air Force Services Center, a primary subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, is working with installation fitness assessment cells to schedule and conduct training for unit fitness program managers and physical training leaders to ensure proper administration of the new components.
While the waist measurement is no longer a component of the fitness assessment, DoD Instruction 1308.3 still requires Airmen to be measured for and maintain a healthy body composition to ensure physical readiness. The Air Force Surgeon General, who has responsibility for overall Airmen health, has reviewed alternatives and determined waist-to-height ratio as the best available method for assessing body composition. The Air Force SG office will provide guidance on this program in the coming months.
In addition to the approved new options, the Air Force continues to test future alternatives. Key tenets for new options include ensuring the test is an equivalent measure of fitness, regardless of testing method, and ensuring approved alternatives can be available at every location so all Airmen have the same set of options. This currently limits options like swimming or biking where sufficient equipment is not available at all locations. Likewise, based on equipment requirements and the need for continued testing, the one-mile walk is not being incorporated as an option at this time. The two-kilometer walk will remain a fitness component for those who are not medically cleared to perform the two approved aerobic options.
The alternative events will not apply to the annual fitness tests for Guardians as the U.S. Space Force develops and implements its service-specific Holistic Health Assessment over the next year.
Photo caption:
U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen take part in the run portion of a physical fitness test as the opening day of the Air Education and Training Command Defender Challenge team tryout at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Jan. 27, 2020. The five-day selection camp includes a physical fitness test, M-9 and M-4 weapons firing, the alpha warrior obstacle course, a ruck march and also includes a military working dog tryout as well. A total of 27 Airmen, including five MWD handlers and their canine partners, were invited to tryout for the team. The seven selectees to the AETC team will represent the First Command at the career field’s world-wide competition that will be held at JBSA-Camp Bullis in May 2020.
