JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Naval Support Activity Sailors set the standard in physical conditioning during a Physical Fitness Assessment held in conjunction with National Physical Fitness and Sports Month on Joint Base Charleston-Weapons Station, May 5.
The PFA, conducted every six months, consists of a cardiovascular component, push-ups and sit-ups and tests Sailors' cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and stamina performance.
"The PFA goes hand-in-hand with the Navy-wide effort in promoting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and culture of wellness. It tests our Sailors to ensure they maintain a certain degree of physical readiness that allows them to effectively do their job," said NSA's command fitness leader Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jacob Moore.
According to MA1 Moore, staying within PFA standards is even more important due to the Navy's increasingly tougher rules governing what happens to Sailors who don't meet the PFA standards.
"Sailors need to be physically fit year-round, not just when the PFA comes up," MA1 Moore said. "Sailors who don't meet the PFA standards could be impacting their careers because if they fail three PFAs within four years, they will be discharged from the Navy."
The current physical readiness test has gone relatively unchanged since the 1980's but now, Navy officials are researching several alternate exercises that could possibly replace the 1.5-mile run and sit-ups.
In a recent Naval Personnel Command article, Navy Physical Readiness Program Director Bill Moore said, even though the Navy is Beta testing new exercises, this does not necessarily mean the PRT will change.
"We are always looking at process improvement. An open mind is essential to the program - whether we are considering new exercise options or focusing on nutrition," he said.
"I need to reemphasize that this is for research purposes only and that there are currently no plans to change the Navy PRT," Mr. Moore said.
Some of the assessments being reviewed include: leg-hip dynamometer, standing long jump, 300-yard shuttle run, two-kilometer rower, five-kilometer bike and a 15-yard pro-agility test. These tests are considered to be common movements that are used on a daily basis.
For further information on the Navy's Physical Readiness Program website: http://www.npc.navy.mil/support/physical.