New fitness standards in place; Robins Airmen say no sweat Published July 16, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Just as the sun began to rise over the Fitness Center last week, scores of Airmen were gathering and stretching in preparation for that day's physical training regime. As the Airmen started running on the track or engaging in various other forms of exercise, Capt. Samuel Hutchins and Airmen 1st Class Arthur Burney headed into the Health and Wellness Center. They were there to take the all-important Air Force Physical Fitness Test. The new Air Force Physical Fitness Test for active-duty Airmen went into effect July 1. The elements of the test - running, sit-ups, push-ups and waist-size - are the same as before, but are weighted differently, with more emphasis on the running portion. Airmen must also meet minimum standards on all four elements; if they fail one, they fail the test. Another significant change is that, to ensure consistency and fairness, the test is now conducted by trained civilians in the Fitness Test Cell at the HAWC. Nonetheless, Hutchins and Burney both expressed confidence they would pass. The process started with Fitness Assessment Cell technicians Demond Webb and Felicia Gomez-Stewart giving a detailed explanation of the testing procedures. It starts with measurements of an Airman's height, weight and waist size. It's followed by the Airman doing pushups and sit-ups, and then running a mile and a half. The minimum overall score needed is 75. Burney and Hutchins passed easily - Burney with an 87 and Hutchins with an 81. "I do think it's fair," Hutchins said of the new standards. "It's something we have needed." Burney said he wasn't worried about the new test. "A test is a test to me," he said.