A Peek Into The Air Force Physical Fitness Test Standards

The US Air Force could be perhaps one of the most physically demanding jobs. The enlisted men are required to meet extremely high standards of fitness to always be prepared for the call of duty. Not only is the fitness test used to judge the fitness of the airmen extremely difficult, it is the expectation of performance in these tests that are more surprising.

In 2010, the US Air Force revised its test program as part of the new Fit for Fighting campaign, improving upon the already tough criteria. As part of the new program, the Air Force airmen are tested twice in a year, compared to the annual fitness test from before. This requires the airmen to be in top notch state throughout the year, as the consequences of failing the test are grim and far-reaching.

This Basic Military Training is the prerequisite for any advanced individual training program and the first step for all individuals hoping to progress through the tiers of the Air Force. Personally, while the testing may seem physically demanding, it really doesn’t require extreme conditioning in my opinion. The training requires five days of physical conditioning every week, with muscle exercises and cardio-respiratory running, which is something that I would advise to all the readers who are hoping to acquire a basic level of fitness to begin their training regiments from.

Basic Information About The Test

The test is divided into four main components; each component is assigned a percentage weight in terms of importance. Out of the possible 100 points, the minimum score for qualification is 75, which is in itself considered to be a low ranking score. 90 points is considered to be excellent, while anything between 80 and 90 is an acceptable score. The components of the fitness test are:

• Running – 1.5 miles: 60 percent of the test

• Body composition: 20 percent of the test

• Pushups: 10 percent of the test

•  Sit Ups: 10 percent of the test

The purpose of the strenuous fitness test, other than keeping the airmen in shape and on top of their game, is to measure the physical strengths and cardio respiratory fitness. I would recommend that if you feel you are in good shape, you should give this fitness test a try and see how you perform.

If some of you are thinking that this fitness test is perhaps too simple or easy, here comes the catch. The performances of the airmen testing are compared to expected levels of performance, which is how they are scored. The expected levels are divided in three categories:

The Minimum Required Graduation Standard

To qualify under this standard, you are expected to complete your run in slightly less than 12 minutes. You are also expected to do at least 45 pushups and 50 sit ups in a minute each.

The Average Honor Standard

This requires you to run the 1.5 miles in 9 minutes 30 seconds. In addition to that, you are required to complete 55 pushups in one minute, and 60 sit ups also in a minute. You can also complete 5 pull ups in a minute for ‘extra credit’.

The Highest Standard

To graduate from the test par excellence, your run must be completed in a little less than 9 minutes. The number of pushups expected is 65 and 70 for sit ups. And 10 pull ups for that extra credit.