Rockport Walk

[blagger]

Any one else out there done this new RAF Rockport Walk fitness test? Did mine this week and it seemed good, but 8 out of 10 of us failed it on having too high heart rates! Scores the PTIs gave us all seemed much lower than those we got using online VO2 calculators as well?!

[Uncle Ginsters]

RAF Rockport Walk fitness test

Done it? Not even heard of it...what's that all about then? Is that the replacement to the bike test?

[Fosters]

Yes, replacement for the bike test.

Did my fitness test this morning (passed !) and the PTI happened to mention they did a trial group of 30 people on the Rockport machine, of which only two passed !

[Pontius Navigator]

Just done it. The dog was behind me for 3/4 and then got her second wind and was leading. Went passed the finishing post like a train. had to tie her up while I took a breather (measured my pulse).

If I change my sex I move up to Good but as that is not possible I have two other choices. If I lose 10lbs then that in no good but if I improve by a minute then I move up a grade.

The answer is for couch potatoes to move faster and not lose weight!

[SirToppamHat]

The Rockport Test is not a new thing and has been in use for years. As with the bike test, (relatively) low impact and no twisting are the main benefits, allowing testing of those with dodgy ankles or knees.

However, talking to one of the PTIs before XMas, my understanding is that the RAF is not employing this test in its pure form, but is measuring HR during the last quarter of the test rather than at the end. I don't have the details and will of course bow to someone with actual experience.

The test MUST NOT be conducted on a treadmill - it gives false results (more fails if memory serves).

As often, Google is your friend:

The Rockport Fitness Test (http://www.brianmac.co.uk/rockport.htm)

but as I say, the intention was to do it slightly differently. How many stations have 400m tracks for example? (3 I think). I haven't seen anything published on the subject. No doubt there's a DIN or something out there.

Edited to add that the indicative VO2max requirements are the same as before.

[Pontius Navigator]

The Rockport Fitness Test (http://www.brianmac.co.uk/rockport.htm)
Edited to add that the indicative VO2max requirements are the same as before.

How to the RAF VO2max compare with those on the link, ie what constutes a pass?

[Yozzer]

IIRC the 'measurement' is taken throughout the last 400 yards in the RAF test. I will find out soon enough :{

Why they cannot simply put a fiqure on a 1.5 mile flat surface run I will never know. That they expose themselves to (distance) objective achieved but test failed do to heart rate is bizarre, especially when apparently a single cup of coffee is known to put performance in jeapody.

I can recall a pre-CSRO course phys test. Several laps of a football pitch within 15 mins. Job done, happy days and who gives a sh** if I am hanging out of my ar*e afterwards. Surely the unfortunate death of Chris Moran is testimony to the fact that an active sportsman is not immune to a premature death.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran, 54, is believed to have suffered heart failure while completing the running stage of the event at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

[The B Word]

And after Sir Chris followed SAC Darren Foster from the JFACHQ - also at RAF High Wycombe.

RAF man dies after collapsing at HQ Air Command in Naphill (From Bucks Free Press) (http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/8410472.RAF_man__aged_26__dies_after_collapsing_at_HQ/)

He was just 26 and fit and healthy young man.

:(

Bl00dy Mirror Technicians!

[Biggus]

Is the Rockport Walk anything like the "Lambeth Walk"...?

[Pontius Navigator]

IIRC the 'measurement' is taken throughout the last 400 yards in the RAF test. I will find out soon enough :{

Sounds fairly standard then.

Take a well-known and easily understood product and 'improve' it out of all recognition.

HTF can you take a measurement throughout the last 400 yards? Do you have someone hanging on your wrist measuring your pulse? Do they multiple the time for the last 400 yards and multiply it by 4.4?

If you are going more slowly in that last quarter but you have a high PR then your readings will be low - fail. If OTOH you speed walk that last section your PR will be high but your time short. Which will be better?

I just span my figures, cutting the time by one minute and upping my heart rate by 15% returns the same VO. Cutting the time but for a lower PR increase gives an improved VO compared with the full mile. So, start slow, keep your PR down then leg it over the last 400. Job done.

[blagger]

You go round the course 4 times, on the 3rd pass you hold out your arm and they press start on the watch and same again to stop recording when you pass 4th time.

All of us had worked out our target times and HRs using the online calculators for it, but as I said the scores the PTIs gave using their spreadsheet all gave much lower results and loads of fails!

[SirToppamHat]

PN:
How do the RAF VO2max compare with those on the link, ie what constutes a pass?

The Rockport test/tables should produce a measure of VO2Max in ml of O2 per kg body weight. The level reached on the existing shuttle run is simply read-off against age in the RAF tables to give Excellent Pass//Good Pass//Pass//Fail. For someone over 45, the requirement for a Green Pass is, I think, 7.07-9.02.

However, in the Loughborough Multi-stage Fitness Test of 1987 (based on work published by Leger and Lambert in 1982); these figures were then used against a high correlation graph to provide a figure for estimated VO2Max in ml of O2 per kg. See here for the tables:

MSFT VO2 Max Tables (http://www.thefitmap.co.uk/exercise/tests/fitness/general/multistage.htm)

So a result of 7-07 is indicative of a VO2 Max of between 38.5 and 39.2 ml of O2 per kg.

The PTI I spoke to before the test was introduced stated that the standards were the same for the Bike Test, 'adapted' Rockport Test and shuttle Run.

I would be interested in reading the research on which the 'adapted test' is being based, but as I said, I have seen nothing to date. Anyone care to share? Or post a link to an Intranet source?

STH

[12 twists per inch]

An 'adapted test' yet again := - and of course the HR monitors and stopwatches will all have a valid calibration certificate, after all peoples careers could be affected .....

[oldgrubber]

As someone who was over 40 when compulsory fitness tests were introduced, I have come to a couple of conclusions over the years.
Firstly, the RPW is a more accurate than the bleep test or the mile and a half run at accurately measuring a person’s fitness. This can be borne out by the amount of people who fail a RPW, but are then told to do the run/bleep test as it doesn’t require any monitoring, you just have to achieve a “level” (I can just see the PTIs now all saying “not me guv”). The downside of this is that old unfit people die everywhere annoying the gym cleaner.
Secondly, the RPW does not allow for “body types”. I have stood next to someone who plays rugby every week and is as fit as a butchers dog, but he weighs 16 stone. You know and I know that that guy could run in circles all day without breaking into a sweat but to the computer he’s “overweight”. The answer to that one is exercise less and lose muscle mass, simples!
So in conclusion, do the RPW if you’re skinny and old but not if you are fit and muscled, do the bleep/run if you are “overweight” and fit or about to have a heart attack and don’t want anyone to know, or lastly, be female and get lots longer to complete the test (I suspect that one is going to be really hard to achieve but the image of the stoning scene from “life of Brian”, but in reverse, springs to mind).
I’ve done (passed) my last one ever and I’m off for a ciggy, so enjoy!

[Pontius Navigator]

OG, I got 'caught' when I was in my 30s but then the fitness fad died away. when it re-emerged I managed to stay just one year ahead of the game and did my last 'run', which I passed, when I was 44. As it happens the PTIs had pulled a flanker and the 1.5 miles was a little short. Better, the half-way point also crept back.

[Taxi.Idge]

I have been on the 'bike test' for the last few years due to knee injuries sustained playing representative bloody sport!!! Always passed at the 'light blue' level. Today however, I took the new RPW and failed!! P****D OFF would not suffice. The PTI's brief was useless in the extreme, and as I was unaware of the online calculator, I set off unaware as to what was really expected. I started off last of 6 but finished first, by quite a way. After the 'fail' result was delivered, after 51 press ups!!! I asked the two PTIs present how I could have improved my performance, they both had absolutely no idea!! The only thing they were interested in was filling out the paperwork for my impending MAA and getting my 12 week rehab brief done. Having put my figures into the online calculator it seems that a 20 sec improvement would have had me home and dry. So I now have formal action on my record and 12 weeks worth of boring, boring gym to look forward to!! All for 20 seconds!! All for the PTIs having not a clue what they are doing. A further note is how can I have passed previous tests(bike) with ease but then fail on a newly brought in test? For the record five out of the six of us failed!!
As per one previous comment, are the heart rate watches calibrated? I have personally just written to Polar to ask them what their accuracy figures are. Also I note that the heart straps we used are not linked to the watches, they are the cheap versions which can interact with anyone else close by. I'm sure all very interesting for any lawyer!!

As you can probably tell I am highly p****d off with the whole affair, I'm sorry for the rant, I dont even feel any better about it!!

[SirToppamHat]

TI

Do you have your figures? (Time Weight HR (+ Age + Sex!))

Have you tried putting them into one of the on-line calculators? See here, but there are others:

Rockport Calculator (http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/Rockport.html)

Compare your figures obtained from the calculator with the requirement based on the existing Shuttle Run (see my earlier post for links) - the standards should be the same.

Not relevant to you, but contrary to some studies (eg Nieman, 1999), for some people, the treadmill produces significantly different results than the track, but the impression I get from on here is that it is being administered in different ways at different units (or is this weather dependant?).

If the results you obtain online are different from what the PTIs are telling you, you should start kicking up a fuss. If not, will they let you re-take the test? Or does computer say no?

I do find it astonishing that you go from Light Blue to fail unless something has changed significantly over the last 12 mths.

STH

[Pontius Navigator]

TI use the calculator and play around with the numbers. Besides going faster try going heavier.

If you increase your weight but maintain your speed your VO2 goes up.

Now suppose you weighed 80 kg at the start of the walk and 'sweated' off 10 kg on the walk :)

[oldgrubber]

Taxi.Idge,
As you probably guessed from my previous post I have only ever done the Rockport Walk, mostly as my silent protest that an 18 girl gets longer than me to run a mile and a half.
The Navy have been doing the RW for as long as over 40s have been tested (2003ish I think), so if you want good advice from PTIs who know how to structure a fitness package to pass the RPW, then they are your guys.
The PTIs at Culdrose always gave me good advice for my division when they failed, but I'm sure the, "I'm old enough to be your dad and I passed" also helped to embarrass them fit.

Cheers

[Spurlash2]

If I change just the age (by 30 years younger, say, from 53 to 23) my score goes from average to excellent. Same weight, same time, same heart rate and same sex (ooh er, missus)

So, what am I missing? I am 30 years older, but performing just as well as a young spunk trumpet, but getting a gasher score.

[Pontius Navigator]

Spurlash, ah! Your max heart rate maybe calculated in relation to your age. Theoretically a younger man has a higher maxium heart rate than an older man.

However an unfit young man may be in danger if he even approached the higher heart rate of an older fit man.

Now like the the calculated max heart rate the RW uses a standard heart rate model. So a fit older man may return fast times as he can walk faster and sustain a higher heart rate, the heart rate of your 23 year old.

So much for statistics then.

[Spurlash2]

A lifetime of derring do, max phys, (knackered back and knees, mind) and condemned to a fail purely on 'estimated max heart rate'.

What a p*&£$&.

Cheers.

[Mmmmnice]

Ah another fitness initiative/test.....something else I don't miss now I'm a civvy. Last time I went on det I was given a piece of paper with 42 on it (my VO2 Max apparently) and told to give it to my 'line manager' so he could tailor my ongoing fitness regime ha ha. My flt cdr had a nice collection of bits of paper with numbers on them - not sure what he did with them, but I didn't recall any phys getting done.

[Taxi.Idge]

The calculators I have used online show that if you get heavier your score goes down?
I have heard today that there has been an 80% failure rate on the new test. Some must be due to the unfitties but i'm sure some are down to the extremely poor briefings given by the PTIs, who obviously don't understand their own test.

[Fire 'n' Forget]

One of the resident muscle mechanics failed it last week when he was trialling to see why so many were failing it :eek::eek:

[DSAT Man]

I'm an old knacker rather than a broken knacker: hence the Rockport Walk. First one they've done at this 'certain station in Lincolnshire' so, having read everyone's posts on the subject, I am fully expecting to fail. I am overweight, m'lud, but I go to the gym 4 times a week and keep myself reasonably fit. I have never failed my fitness test and remember the days when I was told I was now too old, at 40, to complete the MSFT (1998?). How things have changed.

I rocked up for an 0930 test, then the PTI's turned up with a boot full of boxes. Eight of us then opened our boxes to reveal brand new wrist monitors, heart rate senders, CDs and USB devices (plus a 120-page manual). £200 a pop, apparently. Then there was the faff of everyone strapping the senders round their tits and trying to get the kit to work. 'My heart rate says 0945,' someone aid before realising that this was the time on his wristwatchy-thing. It was going to be a trying session....

Almost everyone had a methodology in mind to 'beat the system'. 'The PPrune guys say start slow but really crack out the last lap.' 'No, a PTI advised me to go fast to begin with but ease up on the last lap to reduce the heart rate..' Whatever... I just decided to walk reasonably quickly and to hell with it.

Then there was the briefing from the young PTI. 'Never done this before...don't blame us, we're just having to do the test.....not our idea.... hopefully, this'll get binned.... Only those that failed would be 'contacted', but successful testees would be able to find out in a few ays on JPA.' After 30 minutes of sorting out problems we were ready for the off.

It was freezing outside and the hanging around didn't help. Most off us were wrapped up to the eyeballs. You know the thing, puffa jackets, hats, gloves. One young lady even had a cute little pair of ear muffs on. It felt a bit strange parading around the athletics track like educational retards but we did the business. Times and heart rates reported, off we went to the gym for sit-ups and press-ups, although the gloveless ones complained about their hands being too cold for the press-ups!

So, how did I do? Well.... I don't know. All the data must be entered into a computer and the numbers are duly crunched. All I know was that I was comfortably in the blue for the press-ups and sit-ups. And this is all good evidence for when I'm on the boss's carpet for failing my fitness test when the results are phoned through. I'll let you know!

[Big Unit Specialist]

Something I found on the net about the Rockport Walk:

Objective
The objective of this test is to monitor the development of the athlete's VO2max.

Analysis
Analysis of the result is by comparing it with the results of previous tests. It is expected that, with appropriate training between each test, the analysis would indicate an improvement.

Target Group
This test is suitable for sedentary individuals but not for individuals where the test would be contraindicated.

Reliability
Test reliability refers to the degree to which a test is consistent and stable in measuring what it is intended to measure. Reliability will depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual's level of motivation to perform the test.

Validity
Test validity refers to the degree to which the test actually measures what it claims to measure and the extent to which inferences, conclusions, and decisions made on the basis of test scores are appropriate and meaningful. This test provides a means to monitor the effect of training on the athlete's physical development. For an assessment of your Vo2max see the VO2max normative data tables.

Soooooooooooooo, the test is designed to monitor the effect of training on the "athlete's" physical development................the very thing to be used for a pass/fail test then

[Taxi.Idge]

B.U.S.
Can you post a link to the place where you found those details please. I have kind of heard enough re. all this. I think a letter to the Stn Cmdr, Wg Cdr, PEdO followed by a meeting with the staish is now required!!!

[Spurlash2]

Here (http://www.brianmac.co.uk/rockport.htm)it is.

[Taxi.Idge]

Can you elaborate on the MAA comment?

[DSAT Man]

Get in......got a green overall. Fit for human consumption for another 6 months!:D

[Biggus]

I don't know what all you lot are complaining about!


There was an article in the RAF News about the Rockport walk a few weeks ago, where a reporter an a senior officer did it together. They didn't report any problems with the test, so it must be all right.......mustn't it? ;)




P.S. The saga as related by DSAT Man at post 26 could only happen in the RAF (actually sadly it could probably happen at many places in the UK!!). The PEdO (or senior PTI) at his base should be sacked. Knowing that they were required to administer the Rockport Test, the idea that the PTIs hadn't already acquainted themselves with the kit, and tried a dry run or two on themselves, should be unbelieveable in even a semi efficient organization - unfortunately his tale does not surprise me in the slightest. You would have thought I was old enough to know by now how the RAF actually works.....or doesn't!!!! :ugh:

[Pontius Navigator]

There was an article in the RAF News about the Rockport walk a few weeks ago,

You read it?

I didn't realise it was as widely read.:}

[TrenchardsLoveSock]

Morning all.

Physio has just informed me that I am broken enough to do the RW. Knowing nothing about it, I set out to find some background gen via Google (loads of info and a link to this thread) and a rummage through the PEd Flt folders on the Station drives.

On the PEd Flt drive I found something interesting that would explain why some people are being given lower results than expected. It was the spreadsheet used to record results and calculate the VO2max score. It wasn't protected (bit of an oops as it lists names, weights and results!) and a check of the formulae throws up a bit of interesting gen.

The formula that is all over the Internet and backed by years of research and results is as follows:
132.853 - (0.0769 × Weight) - (0.3877 × Age) + (6.315 × Gender) - (3.2649 × Time) - (0.1565 × Heart rate)

It's also used by the RAF, BUT ONLY FOR THE OVER 40's. Anyone under 40 has their VO2max calculated with the following:
51.047 - (0.271 x Weight) - (0.231 x Age) + (8.339 x Gender) + (635.012 x 1/Time) - (0.225 x Heart rate)

No idea where they got that calculation from, I can't find it on the Net anywhere! I've also got no idea why an alternative calculation is required for the under 40's when age is taken into account within the formula anyway.

What I do know is that when punching in some figures to get a borderline pass using the online figures, I fail on the under 40 sum used by the RAF.

Why can't our Lords and Masters just leave things as they are for a change? :mad:

[Pontius Navigator]

TLS, in the formula there is an 'unknown' constant - gender. What is the numerical value for gender?

[SirToppamHat]

Male = 1 , Female = 0.

See here:

Brianmac Rockport Test (http://www.brianmac.co.uk/rockport.htm)

There's loads of info on the Rockport Test out there. What there is very little of out there is info on the RAF version of the test. From the website above:

* 132.853 - (0.0769 × Weight) - (0.3877 × Age) + (6.315 × Gender) - (3.2649 × Time) - (0.1565 × Heart rate)

Where:

* Weight is in pounds (lbs)
* Gender Male = 1 and Female = 0
* Time is expressed in minutes and 100ths of minutes
* Heart rate is in beats/minute
* Age is in years

STH

[Canadian Break]

Nice formula, but the question is Toppers old man, will it reach flying speed?:ok:

[iainchef]

yeh i done it today there was 2 of us both failed and again imputted my results on to 2 different rockport walk calculators and my result from pti was a lot lower than what the calculators said i think its raf way of getting rid of injured people without med discharge them saves money

[Really annoyed]

Ian because you failed it, does that mean they have started MAA against you, as you obviously have a bad attitude to fitness you lard arse.

[4fitter]

Failed the bike test in 1999, but never failed a fitness test. Best BFT was 8.32 and up till 2006 did Army CFTs (with weight) every 4 weeks. Tried the Rockport and failed. Thank god only a few years to go and I would encourage anybody to show my poor attitude to fitness.

There are some very strong employment/equality issues which might bite on the backside.

PS. All my staff are encouraged to take phys at least 3 times a week in the Queen's time, irrespective of workload.

? Positive Attitude.

[iainchef]

Yes MAA action has been raised against me as for lard arse, i train 5 days a week including 2 PTI lead circuits sessions a week and am also a spinning instructor and take classes weekly so hardly a bad attitude towards phys is it.

[Wensleydale]

The thing to remember is that this is not a fitness test - it is a fatness test. The way to pass is not to get any fitter but to lose weight.

[Pontius Navigator]

Wensleydale, I said at post #4

If I lose 10lbs then that in no good but if I improve by a minute then I move up a grade.

The answer is for couch potatoes to move faster and not lose weight!

That of course is simplistic. If I change gender, which of course is more difficult, then passing becomes easy.

But I imagine the lose weight aspect is really to get a lower heart beat as you are doing less work.

[LFFC]

iainchef

Remember that every cloud has a silver lining. Keep your eyes on the rules for the test; if they are changed because the test is faulty, or if the test is withdrawn, then your sebsequent Service Complaint might generate a worthwhile out-of-court settlement!

[Spurlash2]

Wensleydale,

The way to pass is not to get any fitter but to lose weight

...or get younger.

That reminds me, must check that picture in the attic. You never know.

[Really annoyed]

Yes MAA action has been raised against me as for lard arse, i train 5 days a week including 2 PTI lead circuits sessions a week and am also a spinning instructor and take classes weekly so hardly a bad attitude towards phys is it.

So you are saying that you have started the rocky road (pun intended) to being kicked out due to a bad attitude to fitness even though you take spinning classes? I take it that you put that down on your comments box on the MAA paperwork and told them that you weren't happy with this action against you. I do hope you weren't expecting to get promoted as this will go down on your SJAR, you lard arse with a bad attitude.

[iainchef]

My MAA will only stand for 2 weeks as i am posted and they do not go in SJAR as it is a fitness MAA, a second fail = a formal warning and that will go in my SJAR and screw my career think a trip to the Med Centre for stress is in order, they must comment on my "attitude towards fitness" where i think the words used were "incredibly positive attitude towards fitness" however what do i know,

[tommee_hawk]

Just failed my Rockport Walk on Fri last. Haven't failed a fitness test since they were introduced in the early 90's, and now need to improve by 25% in 12 weeks. So, either I have to lose 20+ kilos at the same finishing heart rate, or reduce heart rate to higher than it was before I started the walk - in 12 weeks! I was also briefed that I had to keep on the bib and heart rate monitor while I did the press-ups & sit-ups (2 people doing the test, so easily open to confusion....).

I'm not overly worried about MAA cos I'll probably be gone before it could get me, but I feel very sorry for you younger, fatter chaps who fail. An ill-thought test, poorly organised and definitely fatness, not fitness, biased.

[Spurlash2]

tommee_hawk raises an interesting point.

If several people are wearing heart monitors, which are transmitting to the receiver on their wrist, the signals from one individuals chest strap may interfere with the person's next to them. I have experience of this in the gym myself, so feel free to substitute 'may interfere' with 'will interfere'.

So if a group of people are being clocked within, say, 10 feet of each other, you may end up with someone else's heart reading.

There is a strong probability that incorrect readings will be taken.

That'll be an MAA, then.

[oldgrubber]

Guys,
I don't know if you read my posts previously but I'll try to sum up my experience with the RPW.
I have only ever done the RPW as an annual fitness test, being over 40 when annual tests were introduced. In the past during my 32 and half years I have done mile and a half and bleep tests as required for leadership courses.
Being quite a small build is an advantage when taking part in the RPW, there is no doubt about that but you must have a basic level of "fitness" to pass the walk. I have already stated that you are at a disadvantage if you are fit, but "big", but then one must ask why you choose to take part in a test that disadvantages "big" people when you could opt for the run or the bleep test.
I have also stated that the Naval PTIs are well versed in conducting the RPW test, so if you think that your PTIs are failing to carry out the test correctly then ask them to consult with people who know what they are doing, either that or with all due respect, grow a set and put it in writing to you OIC, after all its your career.
The "younger" members of my division who have had to try the RPW due to ailments and conditions that preclude running all say they would rather do the run or bleep test, why? because they are unmonitored (no heart monitor) and they say "easier".
As for interference between monitors, the staff at Culdrose are well aware of the possibilities of this happening and brief the attendees thoroughly and carry out function tests prior to the walk. In all my time since this walk has been used here I can honestly say that I've never heard of "cross contamination" of readings causing a fail and thus a warning.

cheers

[Strictly Jungly]

OldGrubber,
I second that RE: RPW. Due to a back problem I had to utilise the RPW in the last few years of my service and have never experienced any problems at VL. I also concur that the Naval PTI's are very good. I have only witnessed one failure and that was at SULTAN.

What did confuse me last year was the differences between RN and RAF requirements for the beep test at St Mawgan. It was advantageous to be in the dark blue it appeared! Why are the required standards so different?

Regards
SJ

[Jumping_Jack]

Because in the Navy there is only so much real estate to run away on. You reach the edge of the ship before reaching VO2 Max...the edge of airfields is much further...:ok:

[Adam Nams]

"Hi, this is Gym Rockport, please leave your name and VO2 number after the tone. Ill get back to you"

[NutLoose]

I must be really unfit, I got tired just reading the first page! :}

[Boris1275]

I've had to do the cycle test for several years now due to loss of cartilage and a ruptured ACL in my right knee, and I have always scored light blue. So after reading the comments on this thread and being about 14 KG overweight I was a little apprehensive about undertaking the RPW. I Therefore decided to undertake the RPW in my own time and check my results- I failed!
I did however discover that the best way of maximising your VO2 max is to walk as fast as you possibly can and then slow right down for the last 200 meters. To improve, I practiced walking flat out over 1600m and did some interval training sessions on a X trainer.
A week later I took the test and my result was a VO2 max of 46. Whilst my VO2 max score had dropped slightly from my score on the bike it was still good enough to get a light blue. whilst the RPW does seem slightly harder, in my opinion if you can pass the bike test and do a bit of preparation then the RPW is easily passable.

[Grimweasel]

I wish more people did pass the RAFFT then I wouldn't have to draft so many bloody Admin Reports for Discharge! (1027 SNLR).

But... people do have a 48 week period from first fail to final AR. I'm sure that if the Med Center provides a fit MES and the individual signs his deceleration to take the test then the RAFFT is achievable. Generally, the people that do moan about it are the minority that are unfit for RAF service. Harsh, but the standard has been set, the policy implemented - and if you don't stack up you get 3 chances (with 12 weeks between tests) to pass.

As an aside, I was told the RPW is easy to pass. Go balls out for the first period and then walk the last 400 meters and let your heart rate recover as the HR is only taken at the end of the test and not an average throughout. :ok:

[sooms]

Today I went to do a rockport walk practice after just getting signed off after 18 months on a temporary MES.

1. Turned up at the gym at 1300 along with 11 others to do the practice.
2. At 1320 we were on the astro turf trying to get the heart rate monitors to work. In the end 7 appeared to be working so 7 set off- the other 5 (me included) then spent another 15 minutes randomly swapping monitors/ watch things to try and get a heart rate.
3. 1 of the 5 managed to get a heart rate although it showed either 211 or 0.
4. After the other 7 had finished, then spent another 15 minutes trying to get a monitor to work from those who had finished- unsucessful.
5. Retired to the gym to continue trying to get one to work.
6. An apologetic Cpl PTI attempts to get some working- unsucessful. Cpl PTI states that out of the 7 who managed the test he considered 3 results to be accurate.
7. Gave up and went back to work.

Result: I now have absolutely no faith in the accuracy of the test equipment- even if you get one that works at the start of the test is it going to accurately monitor your heart rate for the whole test?
From the comments of the PTI they obviously have no confidence in it either.

In 29 years in the service I have rarely witnessed anything as shambolic and flawed, yet the results of this test are affecting peoples (and their famillies) lives and careers. Is anybody doing anything about it?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

I recently had the opportunity to chat to COS Health, a 2 star at HQ Air, and he is all for the RPW. It's not going anywhere and from what he said, the beep test would also stay but the RPW would start to become the primary fitness test.

[Jumping_Jack]

Maybe he needs to be directed to this forum and explain himself then. It is quite clear that there are flaws, or misunderstandings that are contributing to a lack of trust. Debacles as described earlier do nothing to counter this perception.

[ukmil]

This is yet again, another flawed system that the MOD have purchased. I have already seen how it can be passed by people who normally could not.

The idea, is you complete the laps in the quickest time possible, but your HR over the last 400 m has to be at a level, which tallies with the time you did it, and you age.

Now, I have seen a chap do it last week, who did as most will do, and do all the laps constant, and failed.

He then took some advice, tried it a week later and passed, and you can't tell me he got fitter in a week.

So what did he do, well, he simply went as fast as he could for the first 3/4 without running, to get the time down, then slowed it right down, so when you hit the 400 m point, your HR has come down, and you simply walk the last 400m casually. This, after to doing the maths, shaved over 2 mins of his previous time, and got his Hr down in the measuring period, and gave him a pass

Flawed? You bet.

[BEagle]

COS Health, a 2 star at HQ Air

Why would anyone need a 2-star jockstrapper? Surely a post ripe for SDSR?

How on earth did I survive at least 25 continuous years of military flying before all this 'Kraft durch Freude' cr@p came along in the mid-90s?

[North Front]

COS Health is a two star doctor..... even worse!

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

If you put HR into any of the online calculators for rockport walk you will see it doesn't make much difference.

Time completed and Body weight are the major deciding factors.

I failed the walk but completed the beep test no problem.

[neilmac]

Left the RAF after 22 years cos thought **** dont like where it is going, and reading this im proved right. The looneys do run the assylum: bit like heat acclim in Iraq, doing a walk at 8am around BAS , yeah thats great.
NM

[Aggro]

Admin point for clarity here. Navy have been using RPW for over 40s for some time. We are using RPW for under 40s. However, most online calculators use the 40+ formula for producing results. The under-40 formula is different! The Navy have NOT used RPW to test under-40s before. RAF is the first. Need to go to the RAF Cosford site to get the formula details, or see below.

As has been said, if you keep all other variables the same (HR, weight, time taken etc.) and just increase age, score goes DOWN?! :ugh:My score at age 38 was 43.1 (green, having always been light blue previously). At 39, my score would be 42.88 (barely green, pass = 42.7) with same variables. At age 40, with different over-40 formula applied, same variables = 45.12 (light blue)!

Anomalies? I think so!

Major factor is weight so if you are a mesomorphic type, do the bleep test if you can. If not, lose weight!

Under 40 formula used by RAF:

51.047 -([weight in kilos] * 0.271) - ([age in years] * 0.231) + 8.339 (gender figure for males - females figure can't remember just now) + 635.012/(time taken as a decimal [13:30 = 13.5]) - ([heart rate in beats per minute] * 0.225). Excel works well for this!
Height and waist circumference irrelevant for the formula.

Hope this helps someone.

[Diablo Rouge]

I have just taken it and failed :confused:

I was 'blue' for the press ups and sit ups and probably could have got dark blue on both had I tried as I had 25 seconds in hand on both; however no joy on the walk itself.

I had practised on a sports field (grass) several times with no complications and the 'test' was on an all weather pitch where I got shin pain on one leg and calf cramp on the other. It made any 'technique' a waste of time as it was painfull rather then exhausting. I am not going to loose any sleep over it and will practice on the all weather pitch until able to do it without complications.

The question has to be: was this just bad luck on the day or does the surface it is conducted on influence the outcome and if so; do all stations use an all weather surface? I struggle to believe that I can go from 'no issues' to 'Oh that hurts' and it not be due to the rubbery, bouncy nature of the astroturf.

I asked if I can simply crack on with the normal beep test as at least that is objective and you know the target, and the answer is "No", because the docs decision is final. I fear that the RWP is not an even walking field with the beep test and would not be the test of choice. Note: Over 40 by quite a bit.

Q2: How do the massively overweight lardies who have not a hope in hell of passing any RAFFT remain serving??

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

At 53 and quite a bit over weight I passed the RPW, despite having had a total knee replacement about a year ago by simply doing what most grown up military folk do.

I put my head down and pushed through any puff/pain barriers because to put it in it's most simplistic terms it's 4 times round the running track WALKING for fecks sake :ugh:

If anyone "develops" an injury doing that then quite frankly there is a real LMF issue to be considered.

Lard arse here who sailed through so any fecker that fails the RPW really does need to have a word with them selves :=

[teeteringhead]

Seldomfit ... in some ways it does seem to favour aged lardies! In a recent (practice) walk, I made the top end of "good" and hope to squeeze into "excellent" with a bit more training. And those who know me will agree that I too am quite a bit over weight
But ... if I were 20 years younger :{ the same results would be well in the middle of the "poor" bracket.

And another thing! As it measures O2 conversion, I would suspect (although it doesn't seem to have been mentioned) that smoking would make a big difference. So maybe that's the problem of the 5 tabs a day racing snake ....

Just saying .....

[Grumpy106]

Seldomfit,

Off topic I know, but I have just been told that my knee is beyond repair and that I will need a replacement; however, they won't even consider it until I am mid-50s at least. May I ask how you got them to replace yours in your early 50s? I am 48 in Sep. Feel free to PM me or tell me to mind my own business though!! Thanks.

[glad rag]

Left the RAF after 22 years cos thought **** dont like where it is going, and reading this im proved right. The looneys do run the asylum:.

23 yrs but same as above.

Add in the obvious stress that having a [false] MMA against you, a test that clearly can be fudged, the blatantly obvious timing of it's introduction and really what have things come to?

Good Luck to you all.