Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson participated in a physical readiness test at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego in August 2022. (Leon Vongen/U.S. Navy)
The Navy will no longer automatically end the careers of sailors who fail two consecutive physical fitness tests, according to Navy policy released this week.
Previously, a sailor who failed a physical fitness test was required to participate in his or her unit’s mandatory physical fitness program and was barred from promotion until they passed their next physical fitness test. Under the previous policy, a sailor who failed two consecutive tests was barred from promotion or reenlistment.
The new policy, which took effect Tuesday, eases the obligation for sailors to end their careers and instead leaves that decision up to their commanding officers.
“Commanders are able to assess their Sailors’ progress in physical readiness or lack of progress on performance evaluations, empowering them with the ability to manage risk, recognize hard work and best care for their subordinates,” Vice Adm. Rick Cheesman, chief of Naval Personnel, said in an administration message.
If a Sailor fails a physical fitness evaluation, he or she will not be eligible for promotion, but the failure will not be recorded on the annual evaluation. Additionally, a Sailor who fails two consecutive physical fitness evaluations will not automatically receive the lowest score in the “military conduct/professionalism” category on the annual evaluation.
Instead, the policy encourages commanders to document their sailors’ progress and efforts to meet physical fitness standards.
In determining a Sailor’s eligibility to remain, Commands must consider the Sailor’s eligibility for continued service based on his or her ability to perform the functions of his or her rank without physical or medical limitations while at sea, on shore, or in isolated duty, and must also consider the Sailor’s overall ability to contribute to the Navy’s mission and his or her likelihood of improving to meet physical fitness standards within 12 months.
The policy change is part of the Navy’s “Culture of Excellence 2.0,” a service-wide effort to improve leadership principles and standards, according to administration messaging.
“Building great people bodies requires more than annual (or even semi-annual) checkups and also includes eating healthy, getting enough sleep, opportunities for exercise (especially outdoors) and ensuring medical preparedness,” Cheeseman said in the message.
The latest changes come as the Navy struggles to meet recruiting goals for the second straight year, with Navy officials projecting a shortfall of about 6,000 sailors. But Navy officials said they exceeded their retention goal for 2024, retaining 16,967 active-duty sailors, Task & Purpose reported.
The Navy made changes to its physical fitness tests in 2015, going from a then-policy of discharging soldiers who failed the test three times in four years to one of discharging soldiers who failed it two times in three years, Stars and Stripes reported. The Navy repealed that policy in 2017 and replaced it with one that discharged soldiers who failed the test two consecutive times. At the time, the Navy was looking to recruit 4,000 new members.
In February 2023, the Navy will reset the records of all active duty and reserve members who fail a physical fitness test to zero in an effort to retain its members.
Between the two policy changes, the Navy moved to a single annual physical testing cycle in 2021. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy conducted two testing cycles per year. The new policy will keep the Navy at a single annual physical testing cycle through November 2025.
Burchett caitlyn@stripes.com
Caitlin Burchett
