POSITION PAPER
ON
AIR FORCE’S CURRENT PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM
1. The Air Force’s current physical fitness program will produce adequately physically fit Airmen. The current physical fitness program fosters the challenges of a mile and a half run, pushups, sit-ups and a waist measurement. According to gender and age, the scores generated in each category in the graded events are added up to meet a passing Air Force standard. It is a commander’s intent that every Airman be held responsible for maintaining the standards per Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2905, all year round.1 There are not enough measurements in place to hold Airmen accountable for their physical fitness progression. The Air Force’s physical fitness program gets overhauled biennially, which in turn creates gray areas for the members as …show more content…
Education and training are essential elements in the Air Force’s physical fitness program that assist Airmen to be adequately physically fit. The Comprehensive Airman Fitness Program (CAF) outlines a four-pillar guidance for all Airmen to practice and follow. The four pillars are mental, physical, social, and spiritual. According to AFI 90-506, the CAF enables commanders “a holistic approach to develop over-arching Airman fitness”3 with encompassing the education and training effort standards. If there is a lack of adherence in one of the pillars, the CAF would be deemed useless and the Air Force core values that Airmen live by are compromised. In an article written by Staff Sergeant C. Todd Lopez, General Jumper mentions, “I expect squadron commanders to be out in front of their squadrons, group commanders to be out in front of their groups, and wing commanders to be out in front of their wings as we go through this test cycle.”4 This statement should hold commanders accountable and should be an inspiration for all Airmen to promote a healthier lifestyle for themselves, believe upper leadership cares for their Airmen, and instill resiliency in everyday
ON
AIR FORCE’S CURRENT PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM
1. The Air Force’s current physical fitness program will produce adequately physically fit Airmen. The current physical fitness program fosters the challenges of a mile and a half run, pushups, sit-ups and a waist measurement. According to gender and age, the scores generated in each category in the graded events are added up to meet a passing Air Force standard. It is a commander’s intent that every Airman be held responsible for maintaining the standards per Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2905, all year round.1 There are not enough measurements in place to hold Airmen accountable for their physical fitness progression. The Air Force’s physical fitness program gets overhauled biennially, which in turn creates gray areas for the members as …show more content…
Education and training are essential elements in the Air Force’s physical fitness program that assist Airmen to be adequately physically fit. The Comprehensive Airman Fitness Program (CAF) outlines a four-pillar guidance for all Airmen to practice and follow. The four pillars are mental, physical, social, and spiritual. According to AFI 90-506, the CAF enables commanders “a holistic approach to develop over-arching Airman fitness”3 with encompassing the education and training effort standards. If there is a lack of adherence in one of the pillars, the CAF would be deemed useless and the Air Force core values that Airmen live by are compromised. In an article written by Staff Sergeant C. Todd Lopez, General Jumper mentions, “I expect squadron commanders to be out in front of their squadrons, group commanders to be out in front of their groups, and wing commanders to be out in front of their wings as we go through this test cycle.”4 This statement should hold commanders accountable and should be an inspiration for all Airmen to promote a healthier lifestyle for themselves, believe upper leadership cares for their Airmen, and instill resiliency in everyday