AF Fitness issues

Good Evening all,

Some very interesting stuff today. As expected, because of my limitations and IPEB currently underway, I was taped and weighed in about a month ago and I failed. Of course, I had my major surgery too back in November and still in outpatient care and will be for some time. I too expect to hear back from the IPEB within the next 4 to 8 weeks with a decision that looks favorable for a medical retirement but time will tell.

Today, based on the taping and weigh-in and failing the AF Fitness test, I was handed a Letter of Counseling which again is complete BS but again knowing I am going through the board right now, I am not a least bit worried, yet.

My problem with the AF Fitness program is two-fold, you know I have had major surgery and I am exempt from all components of the fitness test with the exception of the AC and weigh in. But as we all know, this is not a true measurement of someones fitness. Secondly, if we have a member who god for bid had come back from the war and had the same issues I had or was missing limbs are we going to treat them the same way?? Again, this is a concern of mine and it is not fair that those of us with severe limitations be penalized for something beyond our control. I believe our fitness and medical regulations need to adhere to optimum care and sensitivity to those of us humiliated by medical conditions beyond our control..

Ultimately, I am frustrated with this process as I not look for myself but those that will serve before us now and in the future for "Common Sense" when it comes to medical conditions and the fitness program.
 
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it is total BS and i would be like you and not give a damn. you just had major surgery over the past year. as time goes on and we sit in the "syste.m" and we are unable to PT i don't understand how this can be a factor. it may ultimately work in your favor. i've been going through this since 2006. 3 yrs unable to PT or work out, what do these people expect. prior to getting back from my deployment/injury i was in the best shape of my life. 1'm 34 yrs old and i feel like i'm 90 now. this is the type of petty BS that forced me to give up w/wanting to be found fit when i was 1'st hurt. no worries bro, hang in there. it can't be too much longer for us. any word on anything w/the IPEB?
 
You did write a rebuttal for the LOC, right?
 
Jester,
Other than the surgery thing, it was like I was reading my own story here. My profile limited everything, no walking more than 2 blocks, no sit ups, no push ups, no biking, not cleared for anything but the AC measurement. I have failed every PT test for the last 18 months and the commander went so far as to try to have me demoted. Luckily the legal office told him to wait and see how my med board turns out before they would advise doing it. Luckily I am getting out soon, but have dealt with numerous LOR's. The funny thing is that my 1st Sgt told me I shouldn't have been exempted from all of those things so that I could pass more easily. That pissed me off, but I moved on. The worst I have done on a PT test is a 73. So close, but they don't care. All they care about is their number of failing troops that they have to defend to their bosses. I hope you get your results soon and it all works out well for you. I had to wait just over 22 weeks. Very frustrating, but it will all be over fairly soon. Funny how everybody is treating me better now that I am getting out though. Jerks.
 
Thank you all for your concerns and support through this. I am in the middle of writing a rebuttal at work right now. I used to work with my Squadron Section Commander and he has been very much aware of the situation. I cannot point fingers at him nor my supervisors and Chief in this. This has become an AF Epidemic and hopefully down the road, they will use common sense when it comes to the medical needs of those of us that need them. All I know is that I will hear something soon and they are expecting I will soon enough too. If anything, this can only help my case more in the IPEB and possible FPEB. I just have to take things day by day and I am not worried about the bureaucracy of all this much longer. It just frustrates me as we have many troops losing limbs overseas through our wars and will this be the way they treat them when they return expecting to Fit test on AC and weight if they have limbs or some incapacitating injury. This is just a real pissah!
 
UPDATE!!

Ladies and Gents, I am going to the Section Commanders office tomorrow and will be fighting the issue of the LOC that was issued to me.

Please refer to Chapter 8 of the AFI 10-248 and DODi 1308.3, please look over bold areas!! Here is the problem with today's leadership not looking at the fine print!!!

Paragraphs of interest:

Chapter 8 of the AFI 10-248

8.2. Administrative and Personnel Actions for (Poor Fit Members).
8.2.1. Failing to make satisfactory progress in the FIP does not in itself constitute a violation of the UCMJ. Unit CCs may not impose non-judicial punishment on members solely for failing to achieve a score >75 points.
8.2.1.1. DELETED
8.2.2. Neither this chapter nor this instruction addresses documentation of fitness on performance
reports. For standards and requirements relating to performance report documentation of fitness, consult
AFI 36-2406 and other official guidance specifically addressing performance reports.
8.2.3. Unit CCs should not take adverse administrative action (LOA, LOC, LOR, etc.) against members for a poor fitness score for the first 90 (or 42 days if retested earlier) days after the member received a composite score <75 solely based on the FA. The criteria for AF Reserve is 12 months (or 7 months if retested earlier).

With this said, I was given a Letter of Counseling without the CC looking at the system we have in place per Air Force Instruction. Not to mention please look at the highlights in bold, what they are saying is that if you have less than 25 BMI then height and weight should be added in the calculation?? Should it be greater than 27.5 per DODi 1308.3 (*see Below).

4.3.2. Body Composition Assessment.
4.3.2.1. Height and Weight.
4.3.2.1.1. Obtain height and weight IAW DoDI 1308.3 and procedures provided in Attachment 7. These measurements are not factored into the member’s composite score * except for individuals with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (see para 3.2.2.1.).
4.3.2.1.2. Members who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) < 19 kg/m2 will be referred to their PCM for medical evaluation when first detected. Attachment 7 contains the BMI calculation.
4.3.2.2. Abdominal Circumference Assessment (AC).
4.3.2.2.1. The AC measurement is used to obtain the body composition component score. The use of AC measurements in lieu of the body fat measurement methodology provided for in DoDI 1308.3 is authorized pursuant to express DoD waiver at Attachment 10.
4.3.2.2.2. The measurement technique is outlined in Attachment 7.



DODi 1308.3, Enclosure 2 Body Mass index Table

When it comes to BMI it would be between 25 and 27.5 and I am a 26.03 which would categorize me as passing the AC and height weight measurements.

E2.1.2. The Department of Defense's height-weight screening table establishes an upper limit of 27.5 and lower limit of 25. Because inappropriately strict weight standards may impair military readiness, no Service shall set more stringent screening weight than those corresponding to a body mass index of 25.

Please look also at figure on Table E2.T1. Table Represents Maximum and Minimum Screening Weights Based on Selected BMI Standards and Enclosure 3.

I am a HR guy but I think we have a fighting chance the way the AF and the DOD regs read..

Jason, please advise and provide your interpretation.
 
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