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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Airmen adapt and overcome new PT standards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew Caya
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION --  Members of the 914th Airlift Wing took the Physical Training test under the new standards this Unit Training Assembly at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, NY., Oct. 2 and 3.

Despite the alleged dismal attitude of failures under the tougher rules that many Airman across the Air Force had about the new standards, members of the 914  AW performed exceptionally well under the new standards due to their resilient attitudes and work ethic.

Staff Sgt. Kristopher Mullin, 914th Mission Support Flight chief of customer service, was unsure of his capabilities to do well on the upcoming PT test.

"I started training for the new standards after taking my previous PT test," said Mullin. "It was clear that my run time was lacking my best efforts and with the new system I was going to fall in an unwanted percentile."

However, with hard work, Mullin improved his score tremendously.

"Every other day I spent an hour in the gym running and doing core exercises," said Mullin. "Each day I would slightly push my run time harder, eventually knocking off three minutes. Working out increased both my physical abilities as well as my mental preparedness for the new standards."

Senior Airman Emma Stevens, 914th Airlift Wing command post controller, believes that the new fitness standards benefit every aspect of Air Force life.

"I believe the new PT standards are not only beneficial to an Airman's health, but also to their confidence," said Stevens. "With the increased fitness standards, Airmen may achieve a greater sense of confidence and pride in their fitness abilities. It's possible this increased pride will transfer to the workplace, both civilian and militarily, which in turn reflects on individual stature, morale, and performance."

With the new standards making some Airmen grimace,  Stevens acknowledged that hard work as well as a plethora of workout routines was needed to achieve her goals.

"I'm not a person for whom things come easy,"  Stevens said. "Preparing for these new standards required much effort on my part. I engaged in rigorous physical activity three to four days a week. My workouts ranged from running, jogging on the treadmill and track as well weight training. As with a lot of female Airmen, push-ups require much more exerted effort, than sit-ups. I found myself performing random bouts of push-ups several times a day and before bed. I believe this practice enabled me to receive maximum points on the push-up component of the test."

Airman Stevens improved her physical performance as well as her eating habits in preparation for the PT test.

"Along with the physical aspect, I also kept an eye on the foods that I was consuming," Airman Stevens said. "[Consuming] fewer portions more often and always leaving myself a bit hungry after each meal gave me the energy that I needed to push out that extra mile on the track."

Regardless of the adversity the new and challenging physical training standards, Airmen claim the efforts they partook before the test in paid off, earning them high scores on their tests.

"I scored my first excellent on what I believe to be a much harder standard than the previous PT test," said  Mullin.

The PT test is a standard for all Airmen that speaks on their health as well as their commitment. The recent changes in these standards represent one constant factor that military members are constantly facing: change.

"During the past few years I have learned that to be successful in the Air Force you must be flexible to the only constant - change," said Stevens. "I believe that the key to overcoming change is to not view it as that. Look at it as adapting and overcoming. One of the Air Force Fitness Program's goals is to motivate Airmen to participate in a year-round physical conditioning program that emphasizes total fitness. With discipline, a positive attitude and hard work, any individual has the ability to pass, or even excel, in the Air Force Physical Training Test."