Armed Forces Question....

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tim H.:
You have to consider this, the USAF does not require as much Physical Fitness, becasue the mission does not require it as much as the Marines.

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Primary reasons for physical fitness for the majority of AF slots are:

1. A fit person is healthier, less of a burden on health care and available for duty more of the time.

2. A fit person has longer physical and mental endurance. Very important in the military when things get ugly busy.

3. A fit person looks purtier in their uniform.

AF fitness should be all about health, endurance, and alertness. Strength should be secondary.

 

[Propflux01]

You have to consider this, the USAF does not require as much Physical Fitness, becasue the mission does not require it as much as the Marines. How many 'Ground Pounders' does the AF have? And how many Tech-oriented jobs does the Marines have in comparison? If you want to campre muscles, teh marines would win hands down, but if you want to compare ASVAB scores.....the Air Force wins hands down. Each one serves it's own purpose, and each one does an outstanding job.

 

[Last_Z]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jelly:

quote:

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Originally posted by Last_Z:
-The best service to be in is, without a doubt, the Air Force. You can ask any Army, Navy or Marine guys and they'll tell you the same. Some might tell you we are sissies, but that might be jelousy.

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Uhhh...I don't know about that.

Tell you one thing I don't like about the Air Force in comparison to the Marines: The physical fitness standards you are held to in the Marines (I'm speaking generally here) is head and shoulders above what the Air Force requires.

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I challenge you to try the new program (as mentioned above)

The following ARE the actual MAXIMUN standards that I will be tested against (meaning, to get 100 points, you have to ace them all)

Male/25-29 years old (I'm 28)

-Waist: 32 inches=30 points (I'm 35.5)

-1.5 mile run: 9.36 minutes=50 points (So far my best is 11.07)
-Push ups: 57 in 1 minute=10 points (in my dreams...35, maybe 40)
-Sit ups: 53 in 1 minute=10 points (I can do that many...maybe 1 or 2 more)

So, adding the numbers:

Perfect Score:
30+50+10+10=100 points

My score:
22.35+40.5+8+9=79.85 points

Anything under 75 is a fail and you go from doing the normal 3 days a week PT to 5 days a week!
Tomorrow, go out and measure your gut, do the push ups and sit ups in one minute and then run 1.5 mile as fast as you can. Give me your age and we'll see how you stack up against me.

EDIT: If you don't want me to embarrass you

, then give me your e-mail addy and I can send you the spreadsheet calculator so you can input the values yourself. It's pretty neat and will give you an idea if you are able to "cut it" in the "new" Air Force!

[ March 19, 2004, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: Last_Z ]

 

[Matt89]

Last_Z;

I'm surprised about the waist measurement requirement. I bet a lot of guys with rock abs and lower back have >32 waist.
I guess they are throwing a bone to the skinny punks...a better measure would be a ratio of chest to waist. Don't want that to be <1.0!

 

[Last_Z]

matt,
A lot of us have complained about the waist measurement. We think it's unfair since people come in different shape and sizes. For those of us who work or use to work out, the waist measurement is flat out gonna kill us. A much more accurate method is a fat index measurement. Oh well, it's all good!

Jelly, where are ya! You trying to beat me???

It'll never happen buddy!

 

[Tim]

[/qb][/QUOTE]I challenge you to try the new program (as mentioned above)

[/QB][/QUOTE]


Do you remember what the "old" standards were?

I was originally going into the Air Force (back in '76). There was never any mention of physical fitness. Then I found out...

1) My folks wouldn't kill me for going into the Marines and

2) The Marines would pay me a $2,500 bonus for going infantry because by GT score was 137. $2,500 was a lot of money for an 18 year old in 1976!!!

The Marine recruiters stressed getting in the best shape of my life prior to boot camp (saying something for an active 18 year old). I did and I'm glad. The physical part was not difficult for me.

Looks like the Air Force has seen the light...fit folks are healthier and can work longer and harder, especially under stressful conditions.


Tim

 

[Last_Z]

Tim,
WOW! $2500 in '76 was a boat-load of money....who wouldn't have joined the Marines??!!

Anyway, the old standard was 2 miles in 18 minutes or less (this is from boot camp.)
Permanet party would have to do the Ergometry Test (aka, bike test) which was BS since many very fit people failed all the time while heavy smokers would pass easily, even though they couldn't run half a block. It was all about how you breathe in order to control heart rate. Also, they would put you on the scale and given your height, you had a max waight you should be under. For example....my height is 70 inches....given that, my max weight should be 197lbs or less. If you were a buff like I was

, then they would check you fat index and you'd be off the hook. I was never over 197lbs though.

 

[ex_MGB]

Something to consider if your eyes are not up to snuff is to get an engineering degree and while in college take ROTC. Angle towards construction type stuff to stay away from a full time office environment.

If the service isn't your bag, get out after 4 years and go with a big engineering company and pursue overseas work. Probably a better chance to make good money up front than plane driving.

Stay overseas for 10 years, invest the cash in real estate, and you could semi-retire at 40.