RAF Fitness Test - Soon to be twice a year!
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Well, sorry, but I reckon that's utter bolleaux. Because back in the more gentlemanly days of the 70s and 80s when very few aircrew indeed committed jockstrappery, we were hardly dropping like flies. And the only people who were off sick regularly were the jockstrappers.
An oft used but spurious argument. We can all cite examples of people we knew who smoke 20 a day, did no exercise, and lived till they were 90. Equally, I know jockstrappers who have died from heart attacks and suffered from cancer.
The research, carried out on larger populations than RAF aircrew, shows clear evidence that those who exercise regularly live longer, are less likely to suffer heart disease etc etc (see previous posts).
MM
Last edited by musclemech; 12th Jul 2007 at 20:15.
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Gents,
I have seen a lot of below the belt stuff over the last few days on this subject. Most of which does not befit a forum of this type.
The fact is - we need to lose a few pounds. The dirty percy lot often have a go at our expense. This we cannot afford. If you want to go on operations you have to be fit. Moreover, the youngsters we are getting nowadays are scarily fit. Do what you are told and get on with it. If you don't like it - still do what you are told and get on with it. That's what being in the military is all about isn't it. Unless of course you want to be a politician or a teacher.
I have seen a lot of below the belt stuff over the last few days on this subject. Most of which does not befit a forum of this type.
The fact is - we need to lose a few pounds. The dirty percy lot often have a go at our expense. This we cannot afford. If you want to go on operations you have to be fit. Moreover, the youngsters we are getting nowadays are scarily fit. Do what you are told and get on with it. If you don't like it - still do what you are told and get on with it. That's what being in the military is all about isn't it. Unless of course you want to be a politician or a teacher.
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Another scribbly who has time to go on expeds no doubt. If the RAF think that keeping the RAFT to just once a year is not a good incentive to keep the people fighting fit then why not make the test longer and more difficult.
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MuscleMech
Thanks for the informed responses. Do you think that the general level of fitness has improved over the last few years, or are we at the same level as we were prior to the introduction of the RAFFT? (10years?)
I think we're generally fitter, which can only be good news. I just don't see any requirement for us to do extra testing. Sinjmajeep makes a good point. Why not just make the test more difficult? An extra admin hoop to jump through is just going to make all our lives more difficult, people more resentful of the gym and be another statistic for Air Cmd to sit on. Achieves nothing, IMHO.
Thanks for the informed responses. Do you think that the general level of fitness has improved over the last few years, or are we at the same level as we were prior to the introduction of the RAFFT? (10years?)
I think we're generally fitter, which can only be good news. I just don't see any requirement for us to do extra testing. Sinjmajeep makes a good point. Why not just make the test more difficult? An extra admin hoop to jump through is just going to make all our lives more difficult, people more resentful of the gym and be another statistic for Air Cmd to sit on. Achieves nothing, IMHO.
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The fact is - we need to lose a few pounds.
If you want to go on operations you have to be fit.
No, the ONLY people who are keeling over in theatre are those racing snakes who are utterly stupid enough to attempt strenous exercise in conditions of extreme heat and dryness. The simple fact is, we are fit enough to do our jobs, and that's all that matters. If the Army wish to take the piss out of the more rotund of us, let them. Unlike them, we have no requirement to run around fields or deserts with guns and 100lb packs.
FACT - the RAF loses more productivity due to people sloping off for sport, and due to sports-related injuries, than anything else. Trying to enforce higher standards of 'fitness' than we actually require will only result in breaking more people who were perfectly fit enough to do their job in theatre in the first place. If the jockstrappers feel the need to jockstrap to satisfy their own sense of inadequacy, let them. The rest of us will just quietly get on with doing our jobs.
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When the consequences of failing the fitness test implemented, and when structured time off is given for fitness, then it will be taken seriously. Untill then it will remain the admin burden that it always has been.
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How are the RAF going to be able to discharge someone for continually failing the RAFT when you have lots of people who are exempt the RAFT due to medical conditions?
These people are able to do their jobs perfectly well but would not be able to do the RAFT in its present format.
These people are able to do their jobs perfectly well but would not be able to do the RAFT in its present format.
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Sinjmajeep, MuscleMan had the size of it when he said
So the issue, asides from b^lls ache, admin problems and ultimately sanctions, has nothing whatever to do with operations as people who are unfit are still sent overseas.
No, the issue is one of simple fitness. An issue that must be sold to the troops so that they can engage with fitness. The present system, testing aside, is for structured PE on all courses over N weeks duration. In initial training the new recruit is introduced to a range of physical exercise possibilities. Once out in the world there are opportunities but no formal structure.
Without a formal structure the only measure of fitness has been the RAFFT. Much griping here has been about the diversion from primary tasks or the need to undertake exercise, and tests, in own time.
What we need is for someone to have the b^lls to make fitness training part of the primary task. This would mean that existing tasks are cut back not that fitness is shoehorned in.
As has already been mentioned we would need an increase in manning if we are to do the primary task and fitness training without impinging on personal quality of life time.
NB
Yes, some people have stacks of free time. Lots of others do not.
the RAFFT was introduced for the reasons I mention above. It is a health based test and nothing whatsoever to do with fitness to serve, operate or any other task
No, the issue is one of simple fitness. An issue that must be sold to the troops so that they can engage with fitness. The present system, testing aside, is for structured PE on all courses over N weeks duration. In initial training the new recruit is introduced to a range of physical exercise possibilities. Once out in the world there are opportunities but no formal structure.
Without a formal structure the only measure of fitness has been the RAFFT. Much griping here has been about the diversion from primary tasks or the need to undertake exercise, and tests, in own time.
What we need is for someone to have the b^lls to make fitness training part of the primary task. This would mean that existing tasks are cut back not that fitness is shoehorned in.
As has already been mentioned we would need an increase in manning if we are to do the primary task and fitness training without impinging on personal quality of life time.
NB
Yes, some people have stacks of free time. Lots of others do not.
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RL,
interesting that you have seen some 'scarily fit' youngsters of late, but the Army are having to do some serious remedial training of their recruits to help them achieve entry standards let alone AFT standards.
However, I agree that this is (yet) another hoop to jump through, I would like to hope that the Service's medical support was going to be up to scratch with the problems that enforced jockstrappery may well induce? Or is that another thread.....Taxi!
interesting that you have seen some 'scarily fit' youngsters of late, but the Army are having to do some serious remedial training of their recruits to help them achieve entry standards let alone AFT standards.
However, I agree that this is (yet) another hoop to jump through, I would like to hope that the Service's medical support was going to be up to scratch with the problems that enforced jockstrappery may well induce? Or is that another thread.....Taxi!
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Thanks for the informed responses. Do you think that the general level of fitness has improved over the last few years, or are we at the same level as we were prior to the introduction of the RAFFT? (10years?)
It's difficult to say whether we are all fitter than ten years ago, because then we all stopped at the required level, but certainly the numbers failing seems to have dropped, which is what prompted the last raise of standards. Certainly there has been a huge culture change: 20 years ago the mess/ NAAFI bars were full at lunchtimes, and the gym was deserted. Now the bars are closed and the gyms are full. However, there are still a fair proportion as you can see from some of the responses on this thread who think that exercise is a dirty word.
The idea behind two tests a year is to encourage people to exercise regularly throughout the year, rather than just once a year. Raising the standard for a once a year test would just mean more of the latter.
What we need is for someone to have the b^lls to make fitness training part of the primary task. This would mean that existing tasks are cut back not that fitness is shoehorned in.
Wader
Couldn't agree more, and it is what we have been pushing for. It will probably happen, but it will take time. 20 odd years ago there was nothing (see above). Now there is a fitness test, which has had a few increases in, now the AFB is encouraging personnel to have 3 sessions of exercise per week where possible in work time. I know that not everyone can manage that, but the thought is there. They consider this a leadership issue, and as I have said before in this thread: I have seen sections go from doing nothing 'because they are too busy' to being gym regulars when a new Boss is posted in, so I have seen it in action. There is talk of doing the PTL qualification for offices during IOT which might help.
We are moving in the right direction to what you suggest. In time, everyone who is in the RAF will have had the RAFFT their entire career, and the anti-exercise brigade will have faded away. One can only hope that their attitude to it will not have been passed down to those who remain...
MM
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I would have loved to do fatness test twice a year. I could just about struggle my lardy cake eating prop forward carcass to the required levels. I am not now or ever have been a runner. I did spend a lot of time in the gym, on my own time staying fit. Prime reason was on the rare days there was good big surf at lossie, I was on it and not drowning. I loved doin phis right up until Headley Court told me the remedial physio for my back injuries had made the condition permanent. Now I live a life of constant pain and suffering. My drugs are good though. Fitness good, extra admin Bullshot bad.
I do like the motivation with beer chits mentioned earlier though.
I do like the motivation with beer chits mentioned earlier though.
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Inquisitor
Agree with every word of your last Posting....
I think the term 'Fit for Purpose' sums it up. If you can do your job, in all conditions regardless of your size / build, you MUST be fit.
Doesn't QR's simply say you are to be maintain a level of fitness to allow you to perform your duties...... or..... Fit For Purpose.
FTP
I think the term 'Fit for Purpose' sums it up. If you can do your job, in all conditions regardless of your size / build, you MUST be fit.
Doesn't QR's simply say you are to be maintain a level of fitness to allow you to perform your duties...... or..... Fit For Purpose.
FTP
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
MJ, as you mention St Mawgan I presume you have been in the AE House at Kef. OK, it's an island with limited facilities near the base but it is a Gym Hall, it was scruffy, that puts ours to shame.
You could hire a locker so you didn't have to drag all your kit around. Under one roof it had a sports hall, raquet courts, weight rooms, pool complex, sauna, steam rooms etc
We really need more and better facilities but then you have Edward Leigh of the House Financial Affairs or whatever lambasting the Army for spending £400k on sports facilities when FQs are unsatisfactory.
We are back on the old money wheel. We need more for everything, not just the front line.
Remember Front Line First, Fitness Last
You could hire a locker so you didn't have to drag all your kit around. Under one roof it had a sports hall, raquet courts, weight rooms, pool complex, sauna, steam rooms etc
We really need more and better facilities but then you have Edward Leigh of the House Financial Affairs or whatever lambasting the Army for spending £400k on sports facilities when FQs are unsatisfactory.
We are back on the old money wheel. We need more for everything, not just the front line.
Remember Front Line First, Fitness Last
However, the idea of the local girls' under -18 netball team sharing facilities does have its merits!!
Perhaps more motivation of that sort is the key!
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In time, everyone who is in the RAF will have had the RAFFT their entire career,
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Remember one 1.5 mile run. No crap about shift workers. Staish declared a ground training day. Everyone ran the 1.5 mile. I don't think it was al together as there was not the space.
Most times were quite respectable even though dress or the day was DPM or Growbag and boots. Even the statish ran. With that leadership who can afford to shirk (if you are a sqn ldr or wg cdr).
Some times were very good, some space cadets who joined were good too but most were very shabby and in the also rans.
It helped of course that the PEd staff had measured the distance short
Just measured it on Google, well short.
Most times were quite respectable even though dress or the day was DPM or Growbag and boots. Even the statish ran. With that leadership who can afford to shirk (if you are a sqn ldr or wg cdr).
Some times were very good, some space cadets who joined were good too but most were very shabby and in the also rans.
It helped of course that the PEd staff had measured the distance short
Just measured it on Google, well short.
One from the early days of the Army BFT.
The gym staff couldn't be bothered with measuring a mile and a half, so they just calculated how may laps of a standard running track were needed to complete the distance. The first part of the test was a squadded march over 1.5 miles. For the individual best effort sprint, they asked everyone to shout out the number of laps they'd completed to the PTI stood on the finishing line.
Yeah, right.
The gym staff couldn't be bothered with measuring a mile and a half, so they just calculated how may laps of a standard running track were needed to complete the distance. The first part of the test was a squadded march over 1.5 miles. For the individual best effort sprint, they asked everyone to shout out the number of laps they'd completed to the PTI stood on the finishing line.
Yeah, right.
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I'm not sure we're fitter now than we were a decade ago. When I go to the gym I'd guess the average age in there is 30ish. My last Stn Cdr's sports day I decided to run a leg of the 4x100 relay and thought I was in for a thrashing as I was 36.....looking across the lanes it turned out I was one of the younger runners! Asking where the SAC/Cpl/Fg Offs were someone replied "on their f*kng playstations".