New Fitness Guidance Effective Jan. 1

Airmen have spoken and leaders have listened. USAF officials have updated the Air Force fitness program, implemented in July, with an Air Force guidance memorandum. The memo (full text; caution, large file) articulates policy changes to Air Force Instruction 36-2905 that take effect Jan. 1, including the proper way to do push-ups, sit-ups, and abdominal circumference measurements. The updated guidance also requires all airmen to retest within 90 days after failing their fitness assessment. It gives them the option to retest in the first 42 days after a failed test, but requires commander approval to do so. Airmen who are deployed for less than a year to a location that administers the test make take the assessment only on a volunteer basis. Those airmen whose assessments expire while deployed will be considered exempt. The updated guidelines also do away with recognition patches for airmen who achieved or maintained “excellent” fitness assessment scores. (SAF/PA report by TSgt. Amaani Lyle)