The Air Force is extending the suspension of physical fitness testing until Oct. 1 as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.
Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel, and services, announced the changes in a memo, saying “Airmen remain our top priority, and we will ensure their health and safety as we maintain our force readiness posture.”
The “systematic approach” to resuming PT testing, which will be dependent on fitness centers being reopened and local travel and movement restrictions being lifted. If fitness centers are closed and restrictions remain in place, commanders can further delay the tests. The service originally announced in mid-March that PT testing would be delayed until at least June 1.
Airmen’s next test will be based on the date of their last assessment and fitness category, according to the memo.
The new policy also suspends abdominal circumference measurements through Oct. 1, 2021, or “until further notice,” and annual height and weight measurements until further notice “to preserve the health and safety of the force,” according to a service statement.
In the meantime, commanders should use the delay in testing to purchase appropriate equipment to aid in physical distancing amid the outbreak.