Naval Air Facility Misawa Sailors conducted their first semi-annual physical readiness test using the Navy's new policy changes the first week of May.

According to NAVADMIN 178-15 the new body fat standards will be graduated by age, thus reflecting a more realistic approach in accordance with Department of Defense guidance.

It also aligns standards with the American Medical Association and the American Council on Exercise Standards which, according to the new NAVADMIN, will allow more Sailors to actually participate in the PRT regardless of their body composition assessment.

Each Sailor will have their body fat composition assessed and be tested on the number of pushups and sit-ups they can complete in two minutes followed by a cardio-respiratory fitness portion to test their aerobic capacity.

"Physical Fitness Assessments should be designed and implemented to assess an individual Sailor's health and mission readiness," said Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Bill Moran. "The current PFA model enforces maximum body fat percentages and minimum physical readiness scores, but falls short on evaluating a Sailor's overall health, and does not adequately reflect the challenges unique to sea duty. The intent of these changes is to strike a better balance between health and physical readiness."

Other changes to the program are an updated Physical Activity Risk Factor Questionnaire to better assess each Sailor's current health level and reduce the number of failures leading to separation from three failures in four years to two failures in three years.

"NAF Misawa had zero PRT failures last cycle under the previous physical readiness guidelines," said Naval Aircrewmen (Mechanical) 2nd Class Morgan Reeves, a command fitness leader at NAF Misawa. "I expect it to be no different this cycle as well, even with the changes."

NAF Misawa conducts mandatory morning physical training sessions three times each week before Sailors go to work for the day.

"I think we do a very good job of maintaining our fitness levels here as a command," said Reeves. "As a military, it is also a part of our job to be physically able and ready to do what is asked of us at any time, and the command definitely supports that."

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit http://www.navy.mil/.