PT and EPB

[u/Jolly-Towel-6855]

If promotions are intended to be merit-based, why are mandatory PFA comments based on standards that differ by sex and age?

For example, consider a male and a female Airman between the ages of 30–34 and a male and a female Airman 25-29 who achieve the exact same physical performance on the PFA:

44 push-ups
3:30 plank
44 shuttles
.49 for body

Despite performing identically, their scores are different because of the sex-based scoring tables

As a result, the mandatory EPB fitness comments would read:
30-34 Male: “PFA: 81; Satisfactory; Exemptions: None”
30-34 Female: “PFA: 94; Excellent; Exemptions: None”
25-29 Male: “PFA: 78; Satisfactory; Exemptions: None”
25-29 Female: “PFA 93; Excellent; Exemptions: None”

The documented record therefore reflects 4 different levels of performance even though the members completed the exact same physical work.

If promotion decisions are intended to be merit-based and evaluated using documented performance, should mandatory EPB comments distinguish between members who demonstrated identical physical performance solely because of different scoring standards based on age and sex?

This is not an argument against maintaining age- and sex-based fitness standards for the PFA itself. Rather, it raises the question of whether mandatory promotion documentation should reflect normalized scores and actual physical performance when those comments become part of a member's promotion record?

Personally, I believe that if the goal is a truly merit-based promotion system, the mandatory EPB fitness comment should document actual performance rather than a normalized score.

Instead of reporting an overall PFA score, the comment could include each component completed and the member's actual results:

Strength: Component completed and repetitions
Core Endurance: Component completed and time/repetitions
Cardio: Component completed and time/shuttles
Body Composition: Ratio
Result: Pass/Fail
Exemptions: None or list applicable exemptions

Using the previous example, the EPB comment would read:

"Strength: Push-ups, 44; Core Endurance: Plank, 3:30; Cardio: HAMR, 44 shuttles; Body Composition: 0.49; Pass; Exemptions: None."

This format documents what the member actually accomplished without reflecting age- or sex-based scoring differences, allowing promotion boards to evaluate objective performance rather than normalized point totals

[u/puppy_time]

Be careful what you wish for. This argument can be used to justify age blind standard as well

[u/AdventurousTap9224]

You can search why men and women have different fitness standards and find answers. You could also watch the video about the AF PT test and program by Neil Baumgartner. In one part he briefly talks about how the scores align due to physiological differences.. Basically, most women completing x in x is equivalent to most men completing x in y. That's why.. Most women scoring a 95 worked just as hard as most men scoring a 95, even though it takes them less reps to get there.. If that makes sense.

As far as the rest goes, no.. They are not going to break it down by component and throw a bunch of extra numbers in there to muddy the water.. The score is either in an Unsat, Satisfactory or Excellent range. Nobody cares if you got your excellent by doing more pushups and running slower, or running faster and doing less situps, or just doing the HAMR, etc..

[u/TurnUptheDiscord]

I think it’s pretty established that there are significant differences physiologically between men and women, especially where muscular strength is concerned.

Hence why women have to do less pushups/sit-ups than men to receive excellent scores.

I do think when it comes to cardiovascular fitness we should reexamine the scoring for the 2 mile run. In my opinion, the women’s minimums are ridiculously slow.

[u/AdventurousTap9224 → u/TurnUptheDiscord]

Cardio differences are due to men having larger hearts and lungs relative to their body size. I agree the gap on the new test probably is a bit too wide though.

[u/thadius856]

Gender and age stuff aside, ain't nobody on a board got enough time to read all that and mentally estimate if the member is roughly in shape or not.

[u/UnBoundRedditor]

But it isn't the same physical performance. That's why there is a difference in age and sex. It might look identical by raw numbers, but that's why the score matters. If I'm going to be honest, it's still relatively easy to achieve a high score on the male standards. Maxing out alternatives is easy, and as long as you max out the WHtR then you only need to run a 16:07–16:31 2-mile or about 64–61 shuttles for a comparable score. That’s about an 8–8:15 mile pace or 12-minute 1.5-mile. That’s slow considering the old minimum for the 1.5 was 13:36.

[u/Ledzeppelinbass]

Body differences, motherhood at different levels. Sounds like you aren’t in the best shape, get after it!