Beating Bad Weather: Command announces indoor alternative to physical fitness assessment

By Bo Joyner , Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command / Published February 12, 2020

Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility will roll physical fitness testing into their wartime responsibilities starting Oct. 1. The new USAFCENT fitness policy will be available soon on AEF Online at https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Abner Guzman)

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Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, Air Force Reserve Command commander and chief of the Air Force Reserve, has approved an indoor alternative to the 1.5 mile run physical fitness assessment for Reserve Citizen Airmen. The 20-meter High Aerobic Multi-shuttle Run alternative will be phased in over a two-year adaption period. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Abner Guzman)

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Airmen of the Air Force Reserve Command in Illinois complete lap three of six recently. These 932nd Airlift Wing Citizen Airmen reservists performed the 1.5 mile run as part of the Air Force fitness assessment November 16, 2019, at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The weather was a bit chilly at 6:30 a.m., but winds were calm and pleasantly warmed up once the sun rose . Reservists from more than 30 states come to train each month at the Illinois C-40C unit known among reserve units as the "Gateway Wing". Fitness test also include pushups, sit-ups and height and weight measurements. Staying fit throughout the year helps keep Airmen ready for any future challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Stan Paregien)

932nd Citizen Airmen perform the 1.5 mile run as part of the Air Force Fitness assessment November 16, 2019, at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The weather was pleasantly warm once the sun rose and provided light. Fitness test also include pushups, sit-ups and height and weight measurements.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Stan Paregien)

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932nd Airlift Wing Citizen Airmen reservists perform the 1.5 mile run as part of the Air Force fitness assessment November 16, 2019, at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The weather was calm and pleasantly warm once the sun rose . Reservists from more than 30 states come to train at the Illinois unit. Fitness test also include pushups, sit-ups and height and weight measurements. Staying fit throughout the year helps keep Airmen ready for any future challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Stan Paregien)

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --

Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, Air Force Reserve Command commander and chief of the Air Force Reserve, has approved an indoor alternative to the 1.5 mile run physical fitness assessment for Reserve Citizen Airmen.

In the past, AFRC granted a physical fitness assessment weather waiver for installations that experienced extreme weather conditions. As a result, cardiorespiratory exemptions increased throughout the command and many Airmen went lengthy periods of time without completing a composite physical fitness assessment.

“General Scobee recently approved the 20-meter High Aerobic Multi-shuttle Run (20m HAMR) as an alternative indoor physical fitness assessment,” said Jason Ham, the command’s fitness/health promotion and resilience program coordinator. “The 20m HAMR will be administered whenever a location is experiencing extreme weather that would preclude a safely administered outdoor 1.5 mile run test.”

Ham said the 20m HAMR can be safely conducted on an indoor basketball court and has the same ability to predict aerobic capacity as the 1.5 mile run. The new test matches the age/gender requirements and is scored the same as the 1.5 mile run.

He went on to say that the HAMR alternative will be phased in over a two-year adaption period.

“During this period, all Airmen will be required to take the 20M HAMR when weather conditions do not permit outdoor testing,” Ham said. “Airmen will be allowed to count the assessment as a correlated 1.5 mile run time. During this period, the 20m HAMR assessment will operate as an all gain and no loss option. Those members who do not achieve minimum standards will not be scored and will be authorized an exemption.”

Reserve host installations began phasing in the new 20m HAMR test on Jan. 1. Tenant locations will start phasing it in July 1.

“The goal of the fitness program is to motivate all Airmen to participate in a year-round physical conditioning program,” Ham said. “Health benefits from an active lifestyle will increase productivity, optimize health and decrease absenteeism while maintaining higher levels of readiness.”

Reservists with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact afrc.a1rz@us.af.mil.