While attending the Academy of Military Science, you will be required to participate in a physical conditioning (PC) program. You will also be required to pass the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) IAW 36-2905. A Physical Conditioning Instructor (PCI) will conduct PC up to three times per week. In addition to PCI-led instruction, Officer Candidates (OC) will be required to complete additional PC on their own based on program requirements.
OCs will take a PFA on Day One of training and will be required to achieve a passing score of 75 with no failures in any of the components. A failure will result in the OC being administratively discharged from AMS and will be sent back to their home unit. Scoring the minimum component values in all PFA components will not generate enough points to earn a composite score of 75 or greater. The minimum components are established to ensure that members test adequately in all components rather than excelling in some and disregarding others.
The PFA consists of three events and one body measurement: sit-ups, pushups, a 1.5-mile run, and a body composition measurement (abdominal circumference). You will have one minute to complete as many correct repetitions as possible for pushups and sit-ups. Members will receive a score on a 0 to 100 point scale based on the following maximum component scores: 60 points for aerobic fitness assessment (1.5 mile run), 20 points for body composition (abdominal circumference), 10 points for push-ups, and 10 points for sit-ups.
In week six, you will take a second PFA and must achieve a total minimum score of 75 points with a passing score in all components in order to meet the commissioning requirements for graduation. OCs who do not meet the minimum score will be removed from training.
Rules of the PFA
SIT-UPS
The sit-up is one assessment of muscular fitness.
Begin by laying face up on the floor or mat. Your feet may extend off the floor or mat, but your buttocks, shoulders, and head must not extend beyond the mat. Bend your knees at 90 degrees, with your feet or heels in contact with the floor at all times. Cross your arms over your chest with your open hands or fingers at your shoulders or resting on your upper chest. This is the starting position.
If a toe hold bar is used: Anchor your feet to the ground by hooking your feet/toes under the bar. Your heels must remain in contact with the ground at all times and the bar cannot move while you perform the assessment.
If a toe hold bar is NOT used: Your feet will be held down with your monitor’s hands and/or knees. Your legs may not be held behind your calves and the monitor may not stand on your feet. Let your monitor know if you need your feet held differently prior to beginning the assessment. (e.g.”You’re holding my ankles/feet too tight or not enough.”)
From the starting position, raise your upper torso until your elbows touch your knees or thighs. Then, lower your upper torso until your shoulder blades contact the floor. This is one repetition.
Your elbows must touch your knees or thighs at the top of the sit-up, and your shoulder blades must contact the floor or mat at the bottom of the sit-up (keeping any part of your hands/fingers in contact with your shoulder/upper chest at all times).
The repetition will not count if your hands/fingers come completely away from the chest/shoulder or if your buttocks or heels leave the ground. Additionally, you may not grab onto your shirt as it makes it difficult to determine if you are maintaining proper contact. Any resting must be done in the UP position. While resting you may not use knees or any object to support yourself. If there is any resting other than in the up position the sit-up portion of the test is terminated and your score will be based on the correct number of sit-ups performed up to that point.
Your breathing should be as normal as possible. Make sure you do not hold your breath.
You have one minute to perform as many correct sit-ups as you are able. Your counter will count the correct number of sit-ups aloud. Your counter will not count incorrect sit-ups. Your counter will tell you what you’re doing wrong and will repeat the last number of correct sit-ups until you correct the error. The total number of correct sit-ups in one minute is recorded as your score.
PUSH-UPS
The push-up is one assessment of muscular fitness.
Place your palms or fists on the floor, hands will be slightly wider than shoulder width apart with your elbows fully extended. Your feet may be no more than 12 inches apart and should not be supported, braced or crossed. Your body should maintain a rigid head to heel form. This is the up/starting position.
Begin by lowering your body to the ground until your upper arms are at least parallel to the floor (elbows bent at 90 degrees) then return to the up position (arms fully extended but not locked). This is one repetition.
Your chest may touch, but not rest or bounce on the floor. If you do not come down parallel to the floor, the push-up will not count.
Resting can only be done in the UP position. You may remove your hands or feet from the floor or bridge or bow your back, but only in the up/rest position, resting any other body part on the floor is not allowed. If there is any resting other than in the up position the push-up portion of the test is terminated and your score will be based on the correct number of push-ups performed up to that point.
Your breathing should be as normal as possible. Make sure you do not hold your breath.
You have one minute to perform as many correct push-ups as you are able. Your counter will count the correct number of push-ups aloud. Your counter will not count incorrect push-ups. Your counter will tell you what you’re doing wrong and will repeat the last number of correct push-ups until you correct the error. The total number of correct push-ups in one minute is recorded as your score.
1.5-MILE RUN
Once the time has started it will not be stopped
Body Composition Measurement
See the most current version of AF I36-2905 for complete body composition assessment procedures.
How Do You Measure Up?
To see if you can meet the standards we recommend you perform the PFA prior to attending training. Follow the rules of the PFA as stated above. Complete the following exercises and body measurement then calculate your score.
1. Conduct body measurement. Maximum of 20 points.
2. Push-Ups. Maximum of 10 points.
3. Sit-Ups. Maximum of 10 points.
4. 1.5-Mile Run. Maximum of 60 points.
5. To find your score, reference the Air Force e-publishing website and search AFI 36-2905. Select the most current version of the document, open and refer to the appropriate attachment based on gender and age.
Note: Passing Requirements – member must: 1) meet minimum value in each of the four components, and 2) achieve a composite point total > 75 points.
Members should strive to attain or surpass the “Target Component Values” on the charts to achieve a > 75.0 composite score.