Fitness testing now at the HAWC

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Staff members from the Health and Wellness Center are helping Kadena Airmen stay "fit to fight" by administering all fitness tests. 

Under direction from Pacific Air Forces leadership, the HAWC is now the focal point for fitness testing. 

"One of the recommendations that came down from PACAF last year was to standardize the administration of the fitness test," said Janneane Moody, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron exercise physiologist, "so to standardize the test we've centralized it." 

Ms. Moody said the fitness test will now be administered by HAWC staff instead of the unit physical training leaders. 

"We're hiring civilians to administer the test," she said. "We train the PTLs, but when you have about 700 to 1,000 PTLs on this base giving the same fitness test, there's going to be a certain amount of variation." 

She added that standardizing the fitness test and reducing the number of those administrating the test will narrow that variation. 

Each unit's fitness program manager is still responsible for scheduling Airmen for fitness testing, said Carie McGurk, 18th AMDS exercise physiologist. 

"We provide the testing slots and the UFPMs will fill them when their people come due," said Ms. McGurk. 

Ms. McGurk said the intent behind centralized fitness testing is to keep Airmen fit and ready for duty. 

"We're here to give a fair and professional fitness test for our Airmen," she said. "As active-duty military members, Airmen should be ready for duty at any given moment. Even if their commander asks for a fitness test out of the blue, they should be ready." 

HAWC staff members remind all Airmen who are testing to wear Air Force PT gear, bring their I.D. card and a copy of their profile if it applies. 

Airmen should keep in mind that centralized fitness testing is designed to help Airmen meet fitness standards which is important as fitness scores are on enlisted and officer performance reports now. 

"We want to make sure everybody succeeds," said Ms. Moody.