Air Education and Training Command I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Air Force Physical Fitness Program: Need for Change C/ 3 rd

Air Education and Training Command

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Air Force Physical Fitness

Program: Need for

Change

C/ 3rd class Tyler Moore

4 Nov 08

Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow


2

Overview

• Current Program

• Perceived Need for Changed

• Recent Developments

• Summary

• Questions


3

Current Program

• When and Why it Started• 1992-2004

• Ergometry Cycle Test

• January 1, 2004• The Air Force Fitness Program is established

– Goal: to create a “fit to fight” culture• Tests four areas: aerobic, push-ups, crunches, and body

composition.• Each area measured by a different event

– Aerobic- 1.5-mile run, or ergo-cycle test (for medical)– Push-ups- one-minute push-up test– Crunches- one-minute crunch test– Body composition- abdominal circumference, or Body Mass

Index measurement (as of 2005)


4

Current Program

• Measuring Physical Fitness• Each component has a scale that awards points based

on the number of repetitions, time, or measurement• Each component of the test holds a maximum value of

points• Aerobic- 50• Body composition-30• Push-ups- 10• Crunches- 10


5

Perceived Need For Change

• Changes sought by many to make program tougher, and more fair • 97% of airmen pass the test• 55% are overweight and 12% are obese • Grading Scale Issues

• Scores and scales geared toward inflating statistics of the airmen who are in shape

• Lower scores receive inflated points– ex. For males under 25 - push-ups

» 62 = 10 pts.» 19= 7 pts. » 30% of 62 =19 » 70% of 10=7


6

Perceived Need for Change

• Suggestions to improve program• Make test harder• Rescale waist measurement• Incorporate combat fitness• Test more often


7

Recent Developments

• Report by Air Force Audit Agency• Conducted over 2007 and 2008

• At the request of Chief Master Sergeant Rodney McKinley

• Covered 50 Units• Report issued December 2008• Audit Found many deficiencies


8

Recent Developments

• Audit findings• “Fit to test” culture has developed• Problems with airmen administering test

• Measurements vary greatly from one year to the next despite no weight gain or loss

• Standardization is the issue

• Airmen who fail the test are rarely being punished• Only 20% who had failed twice met a fitness review panel

• 35% of airmen reviewed gain significant weight following annual test

• Of 321 reviewed 111 gained 9 lbs. within 60 days


9

Recent Developments

• What is being done?• Changes are being discussed• January 13, 14 2009

• Officials met at the Pentagon to discuss potential changes to the program

• Chief Master Sergeant Rodney McKinley reports that everything is on the table for discussion

• Nothing is definite until Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz is briefed

• As of 27 February 2009 no official changes have been announced


10

Summary

• Current Program

• Perceived Need for Change

• Recent Developments

• Questions

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e


Documents

Air Education and Training Command I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Air Force Physical Fitness Program: Need for Change C/ 3 rd