Fitness-test waivers becoming scarce

[unhappycamper]

Readiness waivers, in which sailors are allowed to stay in the service even after failing three PFAs in a four-year span, will be tougher to receive, Navy officials said.


Fitness-test waivers becoming scarce
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 13, 2009 17:24:10 EDT

Navy officials closed more loopholes in the Physical Readiness Assessment program Wednesday. The end of progress waivers will be accelerated and new restrictions on readiness waivers are being put into place.

The policy changes affect readiness waivers, in which sailors are allowed to stay in the Navy even after failing three Physical Fitness Assessments over four years but are deemed essential to their command.

“This is an incremental change in policy based on feedback from the fleet,” said Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson. “These are necessary in our efforts to be fair to all as we continue to develop a culture of fitness in the force.”

The PFA is a combination of two tests — the Physical Readiness Test and the Body Composition Assessment. Fail either of those and you’ve failed the PFA.

Under the new rules, which took effect Tuesday, it will be more difficult for commanders to issue back-to-back readiness waivers for sailors who have three failures in the past four years. Now, the readiness waiver is only valid until the member’s end-of-service date or the end of the PFA cycle during which it was granted. If the sailor doesn’t pass the tests during the PFA cycle, commands must begin administrative separation immediately.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/03/navy_fitness_031309/%2e