More than a few Americans might be up a pound or two (or even a few more) after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For servicevmembers, packing on the seasonal pounds has long been an issue. The military still expects its personnel to be fit, even as it has relaxed certain requirements while providing pre-boot camp training opportunities to best prepare recruits. Just last month, the United States Navy updated its physical readiness program standards.
What to Expect in the Year Ahead
Effective for the calendar year 2025 (CY25) Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) cycle, the sea service announced that Sailors who demonstrate operational readiness by receiving a score of Excellent, or above, on the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) may receive an exemption for the Body Composition Assessment (BCA) and Age-Adjusted Standards (AAS) component of the PFA.
That means that sailors who failed to meet the BCA standards yet were able to score an Excellent-low or above on the PRT will be exempt from the PFA.
“This policy is in alignment with DoD policy and is used by both the Army and Marine Corps,” the Navy’s notice explained.
In addition, Sailors who fail the BCA, or are not within AAS, will be required to complete one of the nutrition education options outlined in the NAVADMIN and PRP Guide, the sea service added. The ShipShape – also known as the Nutrition Self-Study Course – can be found on the official Navy PFA app. In addition, nutrition programs such as the Mission Nutrition Course, will be offered at U.S. Navy fitness centers; while the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System is available to provide individualized meal plans.
“Upon selecting a nutrition education option, sailors must inform their CFL of which option they choose and provide proof of completion or progression within 30 days of nutrition enrollment,” the NAVADMIN told the Navy Times. “The completed education option is only valid for one PFA cycle.”
Fitness Changes
As previously reported, until this year, Sailors could only fail a single physical fitness assessment (PFA) and remain at their post, while a demerit would be marked in the record. Sailors who failed to pass would also be placed in their command’s mandatory physical fitness program, and until their performance improved, they would be ineligible for a promotion. Those who failed two PFAs in a row would receive a failing score and would be ineligible to re-enlist in the U.S. Navy.
The new policy, which went into effect on June 18, will no longer result in automatic marks on a sailor’s annual evaluation, and instead, their health will be observed and considered by their commanding officer.
To help sailors stay fit, the Navy Installations Command also announced earlier this year that it would make its gyms and fitness centers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all 70 Navy bases around the world.
Changing Roles
The new U.S. Navy policy on fitness was also introduced as some critics have suggested that a “standard” for all sailors (even all military personnel) is no longer apt in the digital age. In April, a U.S. Naval Institute report suggested that today’s cyber warriors may look different from the traditional service members and that current recruiting guidelines fail to address that fact.
The report suggested that guidelines should be further changed to address the needs and expectations for the role. Doing so could ease recruiting challenges, especially in a tight labor market for those with cybersecurity and IT skills.
Latest Changes for the Navy
The U.S. Navy was able to meet its fiscal year 2024 (FY24) recruiting goals, after years of coming up short. Over the past decade, some rules were eased – including a 2016 change to the tattoos regulations. That included for the first time allowing one neck tattoo as well as ink below the knee and elbow.
Earlier this year, Sailors were also allowed to finally use their pockets for more than holding a wallet or mobile phone. With the rule change announced in February, servicemembers could place their hands in their pockets – rescinding the decades-old restriction that had barred Sailors from putting hands in their pockets.
Sailors are now “authorized to have hands in their pockets when doing so does not compromise safety nor prohibit the proper rendering of honors and courtesies.”
No Diploma No Problem
The U.S. Navy is also currently the only branch of the U.S. military that is actively recruiting those without a high school diploma or GED as it works to expand the number of eligible candidates to join the service amid a historically challenging recruiting environment. However, Navy officials have maintained that the policy change does not mean that the service is lowering its standards.
Potential recruits will still need to score at least a 50 or higher (out of 99) on the Armed Forces Qualification Test that all prospects must take to join the Navy and see the world. Federal law allows the military to recruit such applicants, and the Navy last allowed those without a diploma to enlist in 2000.
