Physical Fitness Standards to Support Readiness and Deployability: An Examination of Department of the Air Force Policies and Culture

To ensure military personnel have the requisite physical fitness to serve, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) has established a variety of medical and physical standards. For example, the Tier 1 fitness assessment (FA) is intended to minimize health risks among airmen and support an "active lifestyle." It includes four component fitness scores: a 1.5-mile run or 2.0-kilometer walk, designed to measure cardiorespiratory fitness; an abdominal circumference (AC) measurement for body composition; and push-ups and sit-ups, which assess muscular fitness. This study focused on evaluating data relevant to the Tier 1 FA to determine whether FA components meet their intended purpose to minimize health risks and maximize readiness of airmen.