Personnel Specialist 1st Class Brandon Norman performs push-ups as Chief Yeoman James Hurm keeps count during a Navy Personnel Command mock physical fitness assessment. U.S. Navy photo by Maria Yager.

MILLINGTON, TN -- The Navy announced several policy changes to strengthen the Navy Physical Readiness Program (PRP). In recent years, some of the changes the Navy has made include the addition of elliptical and stationary bikes for the cardio portion of the Navy Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA), a General Military Training (GMT) program and the adoption of an official PT uniform.

Effective Oct. 1, 2008, unless the most recent PFA was passed, sailors who have failed two PFAs in the past three years shall not be assigned to overseas, pre-commissioning, instructor duty, special programs billets or Global War on Terror (GWOT) Support Assignments (GSA). Special programs billets include recruit division commander, recruiting duty, joint duty and Washington, DC, staff. Additionally, individuals who have not passed the current PFA and have failed the test three times in four years will not be allowed a short-term extension for the purpose of passing the PFA.

Effective Oct. 1, 2009, the Navy will discontinue waivers for progress. The present requirement for processing for administrative separations (ADSEP) for three PFA failures within a four-year period remains.

Rear Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, director, Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, N13, says PFA failures have decreased more than 50 percent during the past four years.

“We’re really seeing a change in culture and change in lifestyle,” Holloway says. “Better fitness ultimately leads to better quality of life, better performance and better readiness. The majority of Navy personnel perform the PFA semi-annually and can easily meet or exceed the minimum physical fitness standards.”

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