The following is a video overview of the changes to the Navy’s physical fitness standards by Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Bill Moran, provided to USNI News.
The following is the NAVADMIN message issued on Aug 3, 2015 outlining the new fitness program.
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SUBJ/PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM POLICY CHANGES//
NAVADMIN 178/15
MSGID/GENADMIN CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/AUG//
SUBJ/PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM POLICY CHANGES//
REF/A/MSG/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/121505ZJUN15//
REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/11JUL11//
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NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 050/15, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY TALENT MANAGEMENT
INITIATIVES. REF B IS OPNAVINST 6110.1J, PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM.
REF C IS DODINST 1308.3, DOD PHYSICAL FITNESS AND BODY FAT PROGRAMS
PROCEDURES.
RMKS/
1. This NAVADMIN enumerates changes to the Physical Readiness
Program (PRP) as announced in reference (a). Physical Fitness
Assessments (PFAs) should be designed and implemented to assess an
individual Sailors health and mission readiness. The current PFA
model enforces maximum body fat percentages and minimum physical
readiness scores, but falls short on evaluating a Sailors overall
health, and does not adequately reflect the challenges unique to sea
duty and the increasingly technical nature of our jobs. The intent
of these changes is to strike a better balance between health and
physical readiness.
2. Amplifying instructions for Cycle 2 2015 (1 July 2015 to 31
December 2015): Cycle 2 2015 will continue to be administered in
accordance with reference (b) with the following changes:
a. Physical Activity Risk Factor Questionnaire (PARFQ): The
PARFQ process is unchanged. All Sailors will complete a PARFQ as
outlined in reference (b).
b. Body Composition Assessment (BCA): Changes to the BCA are as
follows:
(1) BCA measurements taken in Cycle 2 2015 will be recorded
for monitoring purposes only using the current methodology and BCA
standards outlined in reference (b).
(2) All BCA data will continue to be recorded in the Physical
Readiness Information Management System (PRIMS), regardless of outcome.
(3) BCA measurements exceeding current standards, as outlined
in reference (b), during Cycle 2 2015 ONLY will not count as a Physical
Fitness Assessment (PFA) failure. Sailors who exceed current standards
shall be enrolled in the Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) and in
nutritional counseling.
c. Physical Readiness Test (PRT): The PRT will continue to be
administered in accordance with reference (b). PRT failures incurred
during Cycle 2 2015 will be documented in PRIMS and count as PFA
failures. PRT changes are as follows:
(1) All medically cleared Sailors shall participate in the PRT
regardless of BCA outcome.
(2) If a Sailor is not medically cleared to participate in the
PRT, this shall be annotated on Medical Waiver Form 6110/4. A Medical
Evaluation Board shall be initiated if required in accordance with
reference (b).
d. Spot Checks: Commanding officers will conduct PFA spot checks.
BCA and PRT failures incurred during a spot check will not count toward
administrative separation, but may result in FEP enrollment to ensure
success during the next official PFA.
e. Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP): The FEP will continue to
be administered in accordance with reference (b) or when commanding
officers deem it necessary.
3. Effective 1 January 2016 (Cycle 1 2016), the following changes to
reference (b) will go into effect:
a. Physical Activity Risk Factor Questionnaire: An updated PARFQ
form will better assist medical providers in assessing a Sailors
overall health. Details will be provided via SEPCOR.
b. Body Composition Assessment (BCA) Methodology: The new method
for measuring BCA will consist of a three-step process. A Sailor who
is medically cleared to participate in the PRT shall do so regardless
of his or her BCA results under any of the three steps discussed below.
(1) Step 1: Apply the current height/weight tables per
reference (b) to a Sailor. If the Sailor is within height/weight
standards, he or she will pass the BCA, steps 2 and 3 will not apply,
and he or she will not be required to enroll in FEP. If the Sailor
does not meet the height/weight standard, proceed to step 2.
(2) Step 2: Apply a single-site abdominal circumference
measurement. Scientific evidence indicates that individuals are at
increased risk for health problems such as diabetes, heart disease,
and cancer if their abdomen exceeds a certain circumference. Thus,
a single-site abdominal circumference measurement will assist in
identifying Sailors who are at risk for health problems. A Sailor
will pass the BCA if abdominal circumference is less than or equal
to 39.0 inches for males and less than or equal to 35.5 inches for
females. If the Sailor exceeds the abdominal circumference
measurement, proceed to step 3.
(3) Step 3: If the Sailor exceeds the height/weight screen
of step 1 and the abdominal circumference measurement screen of step
2, a body circumference measurement shall be conducted. Apply the
body circumference measurement technique to determine body fat
percentage per reference (b). The Sailor will pass the BCA by meeting
the Department of Defense (DoD) maximum allowable body fat limit of
less than or equal to 26 percent for males or DoD maximum body fat
limit of less than or equal to 36 percent for females outlined in
reference (c). The Sailor will fail the BCA only if the Sailor does
not meet any of the standards employed in steps 1, 2, or 3 and shall
be evaluated by a medical provider, enrolled in FEP, and provided
nutritional counseling. All Sailors who are medically cleared,
regardless of BCA results, shall take the PRT. A BCA failure will
constitute an overall PFA failure for the cycle regardless of PRT
results.
c. The Body Circumference Technique currently employed under
reference (b) will continue to be used to determine body fat
percentage. The new Body Fat Standards will be graduated by age,
reflecting a more realistic approach in accordance with DoD guidance,
which is consistent with the American Medical Association and American
Council on Exercise Standards. This approach will allow more Sailors
to participate in the PRT portion of the PFA.
New Navy Body Fat Percentage Standards based on a graduated scale that
increases with a Sailors age:
(1) Males: 18-21 = 22 percent, 22-29 = 23 percent, 30-39 =
24 percent, 40+ = 26 percent.
(2) Females: 18-21 = 33 percent, 22-29 = 34 percent, 30-39
= 35 percent, 40+ = 36 percent.
Any Sailor who exceeds the Navys updated graduated body fat standards
set forth above shall be enrolled in FEP.
(3) The Physical Readiness Program Operating Guides will be
updated and Command Fitness Leaders will be trained on how to accurately
conduct the single site abdominal circumference measurement.
(4) In summary, effective 1 January 2016, a Sailor will have
three options regarding BCA measurement: height/weight screening,
single-site abdominal circumference measurement, and the body
circumference measurement.
d. Physical Readiness Test (PRT): The PRT will continue to be
administered in accordance with reference (b). All Sailors cleared
by their medical providers through the Physical Health Assessment
(PHA) and PARFQ processes shall take the PRT, regardless of BCA
outcome.
e. Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP): Sailors shall be enrolled
in FEP for any of the following reasons:
(1) Exceeding the updated graduated Navy Body Fat Standards; or
(2) Failing any portion of the PRT.
Sailors enrolled in FEP due to BCA failure shall also be enrolled in
nutritional counseling. All Sailors enrolled in FEP will be required
to participate in a mock PFA every 30 days. Failures incurred during
a mock PFA will not count as official failures. A Sailor will be
disenrolled from FEP when he or she passes the PRT and is within the
new Navy BCA standards.
f. PFA Failure Determination for Administrative Separation
Processing: Effective 1 January 2016, all PFA (BCA or PRT) failures
in the most recent 3-year period will be reset to one failure. A
Sailors most recent failure will carry over to Cycle 1 2016. Note:
A Cycle 2 2015 BCA failure will not count as a carry-over failure,
but a PRT failure incurred in Cycle 2 2015 will count as a carry-over
failure.
g. Administrative Separation Policy Guidance:
(1) Effective 1 January 2016, a Sailor who fails two PFA cycles
in the most recent 3-year period shall be processed for administrative
separation. Failing either the BCA or the PRT will constitute a PFA
failure for the cycle in which it is incurred.
(2) Effective immediately, a Sailor subject to an approved or
pending administrative separation due to multiple PFA (BCA or PRT)
failures, who has not yet been separated, shall be offered the
opportunity to be retained. A Sailor who desires to separate from the
Navy will continue processing for administrative separation. A Sailor
who desires to be retained must notify his or her commanding officer,
be medically cleared to participate in the PRT, and pass either a mock
or the official PRT before 1 December 2015. All mock PFA data shall
be recorded in PRIMS under the FEP tab in each Sailors profile. A
Sailor who does not meet present Navy BCA requirements as outlined in
reference (b) must be cleared by his or her medical provider to
participate in the Cycle 2 2015 PRT.
(a) If the Sailor is not medically cleared to participate
in the PRT, this shall be annotated on Medical Waiver Form 6110/4.
A Medical Evaluation Board shall be initiated if required in accordance
with reference (b). If a Sailor failed the Cycle 1 2015 BCA, the
Sailor shall be automatically enrolled in FEP.
(b) During FEP, the Sailor shall participate in a mock PFA
every 30 days. The deadline to pass either a mock or the official
PRT is 1 December 2015.
(c) If a Sailor does not pass either a mock or the official
PRT by 1 December 2015, the failure will be recorded in PRIMS. If a
Sailor who was pending administrative separation as of 1 July 2015 does
not pass either a mock or the official PRT by 1 December 2015, he or
she will continue to be processed for administrative separation. A
Sailor who fails any portion of the PRT during Cycle 2 2015 will incur
a failure for the PFA, and the failure will count toward administrative
separation. The current Navy administrative separation standard of
three failures in the most recent four-year period will continue in
effect through 31 December 2015.
(d) Effective 1 January 2016, all PFA failures in the most
recent 3-year period will be reset to one failure.
4. Future Planned Changes:
a. Developing a Navy-wide Registered Dietician (RD) utilization
plan;
b. Enhancing SHIPSHAPE and encouraging approved civilian diet
programs;
c. Establishing Go for Green healthy-eating ashore and at sea;
d. Providing more support for post-partum Sailors to re-attain
or exceed previous fitness goals;
e. Wearable-fitness device studies to monitor physical output
and rest;
f. Enhance Physical Readiness Test; and
g. Fitness awards for Sailors who score outstanding.
5. In the long-term, the Navy strives to move away from PFA testing
as a calculation of BCA maximums and PRT minimums, to a more realistic
measure of health, fitness, and mission readiness. To do this, the
Navy will incorporate methods of assessing sleep patterns, activity,
nutrition, and genetic risk factors.
6. For questions, please contact the Physical Readiness Program Help
Desk at (901) 874-2210/DSN 882 or via e-mail at navyprt(at)navy.mil.
Physical Readiness Program polices, operating guides and FAQs can be
found on the NPC 21st Century Sailor web page http://www.npc.navy.mil/
bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/physical/Pages/default2.aspx.
7. Released by Vice Admiral W. F. Moran, N1.//
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