Posted on 11/17/2010 5:45:03 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Over a third of U.S. Air Force (active and reserve) have taken the new PT (Physical Training), and the results are better than expected. As of September, only 17.5 percent failed the test. It was only four months ago that the air force began enforcing new physical fitness standards. Initially, a little over 20 percent failed. The air force expected as many as 40 percent to flunk. Those who fail have 90 days to get ready for another try. An airman is subject to discharge if they fail two tests in a row, or four in 24 months. Each airman gets tested every six months, although tests are conducted every month so as not to overwhelm the testers, and the gyms. While 20 percent failed the new test, 40 percent scored 90 or over (on a 1-100 scale). A key factor in the higher failure rate was the use of civilian fitness specialists hired to conduct the tests, rather than local NCOs and officers. It was also noted that older airmen (especially officers) tended to get higher scores than the youngsters. There appears to be a generation gap here, with the those who came up before everyone had video games and Internet, were, and remain, in better physical shape. In any event, so far this year, gyms on air force bases have been mobbed, with a lot more people seen running outside or participating in sports. The troops got the message, and scores, and pass rates, have been going up each month
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
20 years ago, we Airmen ran 1.5 miles and did push ups and sit ups.
15 Years ago we were hooked up to an exercise bike and evaluation on oxygen use.
10 years ago I did 3 mile fast walk in the AF Reserves.
Now we are doing the run, pushups, and situps, but we are scored on our waist size. Regardless of your run/cal times, you can still fail if your waist is over 40 inches.
10 years from now, the USAF will be full of skinny non-muscular sissy Airmen.
This is what happens when Fighter Pilots run a corporation for 60 years.
What no more overweight supply sargents?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.