Posted on 12/24/2017 10:57:30 AM PST by PROCON
I’m 52, a retired Seabee. I can run circles around the most agile of junior officers, still today. Push-up till the sun goes down, and sit ups forever. I’m also 5’6 and 130 lbs. I would struggle carrying 100 pounds for any great distance, and my torque is questionable when trying to loosen a bolt on a piece of equipment. I try, and can usually overcome by using leverage of any kind, but the fact remains. I have seen much tougher guys than I am drummed out of the service over a percent or two, and the lack of ability to run fast. I got to the finish line, they didn’t. It wasn’t
t right then, and isn’t right now. Testing should be career field driven. Can you do the most arduous parts of your job, and can you do it quickly, on demand? That should be the only measure.
Body fat can be one and I know a lot of folks with a couple extra percentage points that are vigorously healthy. Also knew a muscle-bound, 5% body fat guy who was almost kicked out for being "obese> Some of the aerobic tests have become so "set-in-stone-scientific" that they can ignore actual abilities - I was running ten 7-minute miles a couple times a week and almost failed the AF bicycle test.....my system spools up quick and then settles to a good rate - early heart rate was "too high" and the settled-in working heart rate was "too low" for the idiot machines/standards because they weren't allowed to give me a full load due to my age and I was as fit as very fit folks 10-15 years my junior....
Also depends on the actual job as to whether it can be done to excellence w/o being a jock....
Wouldn't get too concerned about this one at this time.
Thanks for the note referencing my concern. I appreciate the feedback on the issue. Those comments made sense to me.
As always, my concern is with our nation, troops, and whether both are well taken care of, more likely to survive long into the future.
No problem - They instituted different standards/methods of measurement when I was in and I saw some good folks forced out because some ‘science wonk” had determined they were “unfit”. Whenever one tries to make it a “one size applies to all” deal, things go awry.
Thanks again.
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