Air Force Changes Fitness Test Criteria

In January 2004, the Air Force adopted a more stringent physical fitness assessment that measures aerobic fitness, physical strength/endurance and body composition. Senior leaders now are ready to tweak the assessment. Updates to AFI 10-248 will include a change in how body composition is measured, a new table for the running portion of the test that takes into account the runner’s elevation, and a change in the number of days an Airman must wait before retesting after having scored in the marginal category. Under the original fitness evaluation, body composition scores were based only on abdominal circumference. The updated AFI will direct that body composition also be measured using body mass index. For marginal scorers, the time to retest will go from 180 days to 90 days. The adjustment for high-altitudes will apply to elevations of 5,000 feet or higher, said an official.