US EditionAir Force launches new ‘culture of fitness’ initiative with scoring system
The Air Force requires biannual fitness tests including a 2-mile run and reintroduces body composition scoring to improve readiness, officials said.
- Beginning January 1, 2026, the U.S. Air Force will temporarily halt all fitness assessments as it implements a new testing program for all airmen.
- The pause follows a March 2024 Defense Department review that identified pandemic-era policies as insufficient for operational fitness demands.
- The new assessment, mandatory twice yearly, will measure cardiorespiratory fitness, waist-to-height ratio, muscle strength, muscle core endurance, and include a two-mile run.
- Scoring will be based on a 100-point system with 50 points for cardiorespiratory fitness, 20 for waist-to-height ratio, 15 for muscle strength, and 15 for core endurance, resuming official testing September 1, 2026.
- These changes aim to create a healthy, ready force capable of meeting current and future missions, supported by the Culture of Fitness initiative providing 24-hour fitness access and healthier dining options.
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Air Force launches new 'culture of fitness' initiative with scoring system
(The Hill) -- The U.S. Air Force launched a new “Culture of Fitness” initiative, altering the current physical fitness assessments by adding a 2-mile run and making the test biannual for all service members. At the start of 2026, the Air Force will halt all physical fitness assessment testing to transition into the updated program. On March 1, the service will start testing service members under the new assessment standards. All fitness assess…
Air Force launches new ‘culture of fitness’ initiative with scoring system
The U.S. Air Force launched a new “Culture of Fitness” initiative, altering the current physical fitness assessments by adding a 2-mile run and making the test biannual for all service members. At the start of 2026, the Air Force will halt all physical fitness assessment testing to transition into the updated program. On March 1,…
Air Force announces new force-wide fitness test: 2-mile run, twice per year
Get ready to go that extra 2,640 feet. After months of rumors, the Air Force confirmed on Wednesday that a new service-wide physical fitness test will include a 2-mile timed run. The service also said Airmen will take the test twice per year, up from just once currently. Under the service’s current fitness test, airmen must run 1.5 miles. Task & Purpose first reported in June that the Air Force was considering requiring airmen to run longer for …
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