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Fitness in the Military: Does the joint environment dictate one DoD test?

  • Published
  • By Maj. Billeye Juarez
  • 375th Mission Support Squadron commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill --  Last year, as a student at Air Command and Staff College, every aspect of our studies was centered on being "joint." Now, as a recent arrival to Scott Air Force Base, not a day goes by that someone doesn't make mention of "Joint" Total Force Scott. 

With the increased concentrated effort on joint operations as the standard for all future conflicts, U.S. Air Force members can expect to deploy with the Army or Navy and vice versa; increased operations tempo and in-lieu of taskings seem to have become the norm rather than the exception. 

As a result, military members need to be able to support such missions. Maintaining fitness and a healthy lifestyle is a critical piece. 

Servicemembers need to be confident that sister services are up to the task not only mentally, but physically as well. What better way to promote this than by having one fitness test and one standard that all military members must adhere to regardless of service. 

Fitness has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. My father was a high school athletic director and always pushed me to excel in my sports endeavors. As a little girl I participated in gymnastics and cheerleading. 

The "tomboy" in me continued throughout high school as a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track. Upon graduation, my sports career continued as a Division II collegiate volleyball player for four years. 

Today, as an Air Force officer and sitting squadron commander, I call myself a "runner" having completed 10 marathons including the Boston Marathon. So, although I am not an expert in the field by any means, I do have an extensive background in athletics and tend to take quite an interest in fitness. 

During my short tenure in the Air Force, the fitness test has changed twice and continues to evolve. In January 2007 I deployed as the J-1 for the Criminal Investigation Task Force. As an Air Force officer serving as the J-1, one of my biggest challenges was having to coordinate, understand, learn and process four different types of fitness tests. And why? What rationale is there for having four different fitness tests? 

A study completed by the General Accounting Office in 1998 determined there "were significant differences among the services' standards and tests without any sound basis for the differences." 

For decades now, each of the four services has had their own standards and version of the fitness test. The fitness tests were structured to fit the needs of the individual services. Years ago this might have worked. Soldiers and Marines fought on the ground, Sailors spent their days on ships and Airmen were in the skies. 

As the military services transition to a joint environment in which U.S. Air Force members can expect to be on convoys or patroling the streets of Baghdad, one fitness test and one standard among the services is yet another stepping stone critical to successful operations in the joint environment. 

But what does the increased operations tempo and in lieu of taskings have to do with the DoD fitness test? Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. John Jumper, opened his July 2003 Chief's Sight Picture by stating he was pleased with the Air Force as a whole. 

Additionally, he emphasized the criticality of our force being fit to fight when he stated, "My belief is that we are a much different Air Force today. We deploy to all regions of the world. Airmen are living in tent cities and working on flight lines in extremes of temperatures. Some of our Airmen today are operating from inside Iraq, subject to attack, and could be called upon to help defend the base, a trend that will surely increase in the growing expeditionary nature of our business". 

President Ronald Reagan stated Dec. 10, 1982, "The Preservation of America's freedom is dependent on a strong defense. Our Armed Forces must be mentally and physically prepared at all times, leaving no doubt about this nation's will and ability to defend itself. For this reason, it is necessary to better understand the importance of physical fitness. Even with today's modern weapon systems, it is the service man and woman who are physically, mentally, and spiritually ready to serve their country who will make the difference in any future conflict." 

This statement was made a quarter of a century ago and prior to the end of the Cold War, yet in reading the statement, it could very well apply to today's global environment. 

As stated previously, attempting to "think joint" is a fairly recent concept to many Air Force members; processes and systems are just starting to adapt to this philosophy. 
Obviously at the forefront in the minds of the senior leadership in Washington is the need to get the different service weapons and communication systems compatible. 

Standardizing the DoD Fitness Program is a critical piece to ensuring the force is ready for the fight and yet another stepping stone in creating an effective, more efficient joint environment. The time is here, the time is now.