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FAC provides solutions to PT test problems

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  For many years, the emphasis on physically-fit Airmen has been growing. To help raise the standard and level of fitness, the Air Force has again made changes to the physical fitness test which began July 1, 2010.

Some of the changes include receiving a 75 overall on the test and minimum requirements on each individual area of the test.

One of the major changes Airmen may notice is that the test is now funneled through the Fitness Assessment Cell here, rather than through their individual units, making the test more honest since the FAC members have no administrative ties to those testing, said Tech. Sgt. Julie Smith, 20th Force Support Squadron fitness center noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

Though the members of the FAC are all civilians, they are not just civilians, she added.
Each member of the FAC at Shaw is prior active-duty military or reservist and among all of them there is over 100 years of Air Force experience.

The members of the FAC include Robert Bahre, retired senior master sergeant; David Gherke, retired master sergeant; Pamela Tolliver, retired master sergeant; and Mark Turner, Reserve senior master sergeant.

With the new test have come both benefits and challenges, said Bahre.

The biggest benefit that has come out of the change is the standardization of the test, he commented. All Airmen now perform their test in front of the same people.

People are coming back from the test saying that it feels fairer, added Tolliver.

Another benefit that has been seen from the new test is that Airmen are taking fitness more seriously, said Sergeant Smith. There has been a significant increase in numbers of people coming to the fitness center since the announcement of the new test.

"Fitness in the Air Force is improving as more Airmen begin to incorporate it as a lifestyle," added Bahre.

One of the challenges that the FAC has come across is base communication, said Bahre. Airmen are struggling with technique on their push-ups and sit-ups but don't realize they can get help to correct it.

Several Airmen have been surprised when they have come in, taken their test, and a large number of their push-ups don't count because they weren't being performed properly, he added.

The standard for this has always been there, now it's just being monitored more closely, said Turner.

"Our job at the FAC is to help the Airmen out by educating them on the proper technique," he commented. "The Air Force Instruction is very specific to what constitutes a proper push-up. We'll closely monitor them to make sure they're up to par before the test."

When Airmen are testing not using the proper technique, the members of the FAC make sure to point out what they are doing wrong immediately.

"Unfortunately, it's sometimes hard to get their attention while they are concentrating," said Tolliver.

To avoid this problem, Airmen need to be sure to practice the proper technique and have an honest observer critique them, she added.

"We recommend that people come in to the FAC about three to four weeks before their PT test to get their form down early and learn it properly," said Bahr.

A lot of Airmen come in and are very anxious on test day because they don't know what to expect, said Tolliver. They spend a lot of time trying to calm them down at the test.

The fitness test is still basically the same as the old, added Tolliver.

"It's not as scary as you think," she commented.

However, this is still a serious test, added Sergeant Smith. Airmen need to be prepared and make PT a part of their daily life.

Airmen can help prepare themselves for the test by visiting the FAC from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday at the fitness center.

Sergeant Smith said that another way Airmen can help prepare themselves is by taking advantage of some of the free classes the fitness center offers such as Fit Max.

The new test and its standardization are just the next step in physically fit Airmen becoming a priority for the Air Force, concluded Bahre.