Air Force Physical Fitness: An Assessment of Characteristics and Programs which Affect Individual Physical Fitness

摘要

The Air Force physical fitness program has undergone four major changes since the Air Force became a separate service in 1947. Results of this study indicate that the current fitness program has not yet produced a uniformly high level of physical fitness among Air Force members; only 40 percent of Air Force males are in at least a passing aerobic fitness category, and 20 percent get no weekly aerobic exercise whatsoever. Data collected from a survey questionnaire sent to 1600 randomly selected Air Force members assessed the relationship between individual aerobic fitness (as measured by existing Air Force aerobic activity standards) and several other variables, including age, weight, rank, flying status, perceived degree of supervisory support, and availability, adequacy, and use of installation fitness facilities. Individual aerobic fitness is most strongly related to the number of duty hours used for aerobic activities, but fitness is not directly related to degree of adherence to weight standards. Fitness does not depend on support from supervisors and commanders or on the adequacy of existing facilities. (Author)