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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- As part of the Air Force-wide fitness initiative, Fitness Assessment Cells, along with revised fitness test standards and biannual testing, have been established to help improve overall health and fitness of the force.
The Whiteman FAC, like those throughout the Air Force, will help reduce the administrative burden on squadrons and maximize consistency in testing.
“Our senior leadership has gone to great lengths to ensure every Airman stays fit year-round,” said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Long, the Air Force chief of enlisted promotions. “We want all Airmen to take fitness seriously. We intend that the days of ‘cramming’ for the annual fitness test will be replaced by an emphasis on year-round fitness. We were the only military service who did not test at least twice a year, and it’s a definite step in the right direction to change the Air Force fitness culture.”
The test will now be administered by a small designated group of individuals, the FAC, bringing a degree of consistency that the previous fitness program couldn’t.
“There are three Fitness Assessment Cell personnel, trained through physical training leadership courses, dedicated to testing,” said Ms. Rachel Wesley, 509th Force Support Squadron FAC member. “The FAC will host the tests with no biased opinions factoring in the outcome, again meeting a standard of consistency.
“The test isn’t set to fail Airmen, it is here to support the Air Force fitness lifestyle,” she said. “The FAC has a testing standard to uphold, and Airmen have a fitness standard to maintain.”
According to Air Force instruction, testing changes include age and gender-specific composite scores based on the following maximum component scores: 60 points for aerobics, 20 points for body composition, 10 points for push-ups and 10 points for sit-ups. A composite score of 75 percent will still be required to pass, but Airmen will now have to meet minimums in each category.
According to Ms. Wesley, abdominal circumference, push-ups and sit-ups will be done in the same area. Curtains will provide privacy for the abdominal circumference area.
“Airmen will line up and come into the testing room two at a time,” she said. “As soon as we finish counting for one person, the next comes in, similar to an assembly line.”
In addition to hosting the fitness assessment, the team is available to answer any questions regarding the test.
“People fear most what they understand least …” said Lt. Col. David Stanfield, 509th Force Support Squadron commander. “It is normal for people to be afraid of something they haven’t experienced. The more you learn, the less you fear and the better you do.”
To prepare Airmen for the new fitness changes and prevent failures, the FAC is spreading the word on proper form and technique to use while testing. The FAC personnel will attend any Commanders’ Calls, if invited, to answer questions and demonstrate proper technique for fitness testing.
Colonel Stanfield advises Airmen to go to the FAC with any questions and even take a pretest.
“They’ll show you problems with your form, so you know exactly what to expect,” he said.
Ms. Wesley and the FAC strive to provide Airmen with tools they need to succeed when taking the fitness test and in the future, possibly take advantage of an upcoming fitness incentive.
Airmen who earn "Excellent" scores, 90 or above, when testing in all four categories, may test once a year for tests completed after June 30. Airmen who score an "Excellent," but were medically exempt from testing in one or more of the four categories must still test twice a year.
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2010 15:10 |
| Story ID: | 51561 |
| Location: | WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 256 |
| Downloads: | 183 |
This work, FAC; Putting Airmen to the test, by SMSgt Cody Ramirez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
