United States Air Force Fitness Assessment facts for kids
The United States Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) is a special test for people in the United States Air Force. It checks how strong and fit they are. This test helps make sure Airmen are ready for their jobs. It looks at their body health, muscle strength, and how well their heart and lungs work.
In 2004, the Air Force started a new, tougher fitness test. This was part of a program called Fit to Fight. It replaced an older test that used a stationary bike. The results of these tests are kept in a system called AFFMS.
What's in the Fitness Test?
Airmen get a score for their fitness test. This score is based on four parts:
- Measuring their waist
- Doing Crunches (sit-ups)
- Doing Push-ups
- Running 1.5 miles (about 2.4 kilometers)
Airmen can get up to 100 points in total. To pass, they need a score of 75 points or more. Everyone must do all parts of the test unless a doctor says they can't. If a doctor says an Airman can't do a part, their score is figured out differently.
Here's how the points are given for each part:
- Running (Aerobic)—Up to 60 points
- Push-ups—Up to 20 points
- Crunches—Up to 20 points
If an Airman can't run because of a medical reason, they might do a different aerobic test. Their commander decides which alternative test they can do, based on medical advice.
How Are Scores Rated?
The scores on the fitness test are rated in different ways:
- Excellent: 90 points or more
- Satisfactory: 75 to 89.9 points
- Unsatisfactory: Below 75 points
If an Airman scores below 75 points, it means they didn't meet the standards. They will need to take the test again within 90 days. If an Airman scores 75 points or higher, they have met the standards.
If an Airman gets a "Satisfactory" score, they will take the test again in 6 months. If they get an "Excellent" score, they will test again in 12 months. This helps make sure everyone stays fit!
A Quick Look at History
The idea of fitness tests for the Air Force goes back to 1947. At that time, the Air Force was still part of the Army. Early leaders saw that soldiers needed to be in better shape for tough combat.
When the Air Force became its own separate service in 1947, different parts of the Air Force (called MAJCOMs) had their own fitness rules. It wasn't until 1962 that a single, clear fitness plan was put in place for the entire Air Force.
