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51st takes control of PT testing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Ingold
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 51st Intelligence Squadron was faced with a problem concerning fitness testing. They were losing man hours, having to reschedule appointments and were not able to support each other during their Air Force Physical Fitness Test.

Empowered by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein’s initiative to ‘revitalize the squadron,’ the 51st IS held an in-house official AFPFT, Aug. 15.

“For us this was about getting back to the mission and squadron cohesion,” said Lt. Col. Jason Kulchar, 51st IS commander. “We wanted to own fitness testing and take it back where it belongs so we could get out here with our Airmen, make it a little less stressful and get back to the mission.”

The squadron tested all Airmen due in August on one day. This eliminated members scheduling tests throughout the month and allows the squadron to maintain operational work tempo.

“Rather than losing our members throughout the month testing, we can take one day a month and test while we are normally doing squadron PT,” said Staff Sgt. April Cassidy, 51st IS executive officer. “We will have a second day as a backup for members who have commitments on the first day and cannot make it to the test.”

Getting the squadron’s PT leaders certified to perform official testing required teamwork with the 20th Force Support Squadron fitness assessment cell. The 51st IS test proctors shadowed the 20th FSS proctors to learn how to perform the event.

“A big part of this is the relationship we have with the 20th Force Support Squadron,” said Kulchar. “Their willingness to help us, a mission partner, and provide us with the skills to get our PTLs certified. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

As the emphasis on revitalizing squadrons across the Air Force continues to pick up steam, more squadrons will take up the handling of PT testing internally. The 51st was the first at Shaw to step up to the plate.