The Air Force is making changes to enhance its physical fitness testing, according to a release. These modifications take effect on Oct. 1, states the Aug. 21 release. The most significant among them deals with the abdominal circumference portion of the physical fitness test that measures an airman’s body composition. “In the future, if an airman fails the AC portion of the test, and passes each of the other three components, we’ll measure that airman using the body mass index taping guidance in [Defense Department] instructions,” said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh in an Aug. 20 letter informing airmen of the changes. “If the airman meets the DOD BMI standard, they pass the PFT,” he said. The other changes realign the fitness appeal process back to wing commanders, adjust passing standards for airmen who can only test on one component of assessment, and change and simplify the walk test, states the release. (Washington, D.C., report by SSgt. David Salinitri)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.