CoRC: Fit to fight or fit to test? Published Jan. 22, 2009 By Kelley Suggs Health and Wellness Center MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- This year, an audit was commissioned by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force to find out if the goals of the Air Force Fitness Program are being met. Those goals include: meeting fitness standards, maintaining a healthy lifestyle through participation in unit physical training, or PT, and motivating Airman to participate in physical conditioning that emphasizes total fitness, including aerobic conditioning, strength and flexibility. Not only are these the goals of the Fitness Program, but the results of these goals are now a mandatory element of Airman Performance Reports. More than $100 million was spent last year alone on fitness activities, gymnasiums and health and wellness centers, in support of these goals. So, is it working? More specifically, the audit was commissioned to find out if unit commanders consistently implement the fitness program and whether or not unit-based fitness programs effectively promote a healthy lifestyle. Thirteen bases were reviewed and several discrepancies were found. One major finding was that the current testing cycle encouraged a "fit to test" mentality instead of a year-round fit to fight commitment. Thirty-five percent of the Airmen reviewed gained an average of three inches and nine pounds within 60 days of the annual fitness test. Another portion of the audit found unreliable test data; of the 111 individuals reviewed at one base, the average weight gain and abdominal circumference increase ranged between two and 55 pounds and 1.5 and 12.5 inches respectively. Other examples of unreliable data include: - Five percent of tests were not accomplished by the due date and 40 percent of these were overdue by 60 days or more. One test was overdue by 311 days and another by 993 days. - Of the randomly selected Airmen recently performing the fitness assessment, 17 percent had an average change in abdominal circumference measurement of more than one inch since the last test without a corresponding change in weight, indicating the tests were either improperly performed or inaccurately documented in AFFMS (Air Force Fitness Management System, a.k.a the Portal). Audit findings also showed that exemptions were ineffectively managed. Of the medical exemptions reviewed, 13 percent did not have current AF Forms 422 supporting the exemptions (an Airman at McGuire AFB was reported as medically exempt in January 2008 even though the AF Form 422 duty limiting restriction had expired months ago, in June 2007). Why does this matter? In order to support the Air Force mission, not just pass the test, Airmen require a properly implemented fitness program. Good physical conditioning is essential to working in the diverse weather conditions required to support global contingency operations (including Montana winters), sitting in a capsule without back pain and standing at the Weapons Storage Area without falling asleep. According to the audit, "implementing the program consistently Air Force-wide will help ensure fair and equitable Airman Performance Report assessments. In particular, it is unfair and potentially demoralizing when some units hold members to higher fitness standards than others and could put the Air Force at risk for legal action if members' Airman Performance Reports include fitness assessment scores based on inconsistent program implementation." The Air Force Surgeon General and the Air Force Chief of Staff agreed with many of the audit recommendations. According to the report, some of the changes to be seen in the near future include verification of written fitness policies that allow time for unit/group fitness activities during duty hours, unit fitness policies that identify education and intervention actions that unit FPMs should initiate when members do not meet standards and unit FPMs will notify unit commanders when members do not pass fitness assessments two or more consecutive times. While leadership takes on the challenge of updating the fitness program, here a few things you and your wing man can do on your own to commit to year round fitness: - Do some kind of cardiovascular enhancing activity (cardio workouts) four days a week - Strength train all of your major muscle groups, twice a week. You don't have to look like Mr. or Mrs. Universe, but the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you can eat all while protecting yourself from the injuries that can occur on the job and in daily life. - Stretch. You will feel more comfortable in your skin every day, while avoiding injuries and keeping your muscles long and fluid. It doesn't even take 15 minutes a day before you will feel benefits. -Eat well. Don't follow any fad diets for fast weight loss. Use common sense and keep a healthy weight and abdominal circumference all year long, not just at test time. A fit to fight life is more than just being ready for a PT test. It is being able to comfortably meet the demands of the job, home and family life with energy, discipline and diligence. A fit to fight life is not backing down from a challenge because you are physically and mentally prepared every day, for whatever life might throw at you. Don't wait for leadership to make these changes for you; commit to a fit to fight life. No one will benefit more then you.