Posted on Jul 10, 2015
"Colonel relieved of command for failing fitness test"
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From: USA Today
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The Air Force removed the commander of the Grand Forks Air Base in North Dakota because he failed his physical fitness test.
Col. Tim Bush is no longer in command of the 319th Air Base Wing at the base as of Wednesday, Maj. Mike Andrews, spokesman for Air Mobility Command, said in a statement. The wing's vice commander, Col. Christopher Mann, is interim commander until a replacement is found.
Bush had failed the physical fitness test because his waistline was measured at 41 inches, 2 inches above the limit, he said.
"Bush was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing," a news release from Air Mobility Command said.
The colonel told his airmen the same day, announcing it at the end of a routine commander's call.
"I closed by discussing our Air Force traditions, our core values and our standards, and that we are the greatest Air Force the world has ever seen because we have standards and we enforce those standards and we hold people accountable," Bush told Air Force Times. "In this case, I didn't meet it, so I need to step down as commander.
"I offered the wing a final salute and then I left the stage," Bush said.
Until that point, Bush had an enviable record. His previous assignments include serving as presidential advance agent for Air Force One, aide-de-camp to the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and deputy director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He was a 1988 Air Force Academy graduate.
His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
Maj. Gen. William Bender, the Air Force Expeditionary Center commander who oversees administrative control for six wings and two groups within Air Mobility Command, made the decision to relieve Bush of command.
When talking about the abrupt end of his Air Force career, Bush stressed repeatedly that the Air Force has its standards for a reason and no one should be exempt from them.
"As a wing commander, I have a duty and responsibility to adhere to and enforce all Air Force standards, and in this particular case, I did not meet an Air Force standard," Bush said. "When you don't meet the standards as the commander, you can't be the commander."
He expressed no ill will toward the Air Force for relieving him of command.
"A tough decision for my chain of command, but in terms of enforcing equitably up and down all ranks, the Air Force made a fair and just decision," Bush said.
This was not the first time Bush has had problems with the physical fitness test. After having shoulder surgery a year ago, he was unable to complete it, he said. After some recovery, he passed the test in May but still could not do the pushup portion of the test.
On his latest test, he was able to pass everything except the waist measurement.
"I'm always confident that I can pass situps, pushups and run; I never had a problem with that, but I've been a big guy all my life," Bush said. "I'm not a string bean, but I think I'm prepared to do what my Air Force and nation ask me to do," Bush said. "However, in this particular situation, I did not meet the standard, and so I have to step down as the commander."
The Air Force's fitness standards have been a "moving target" since Bush graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1988, he said. "But we have better standards now than we did when I joined the Air Force in the '80s, and we have a better Air Force because of it."
Laurie Johnson, Bush's sister, remembers one moment that shows just how deeply Bush believes the Air Force makes the right call.
Johnson, who also was in the Air Force, was passed over for promotion to lieutenant colonel because of an error on someone else's part, she said. When she told her brother about it, Bush told her to fight the decision.
"I remember his words to me, too. He said, 'Sis, the Air Force is fair and sometimes their initial decision might not be a fair one; however, the thing I love about the military is that there are always ways to come around and have your stuff looked at fairly,'" she said.
Ultimately, she won and was promoted.
Bush was a true mentor to noncommissioned officers who went the extra mile — celebrating with them when they were promoted, Johnson said.
"He was the one who flew down on his own dime, a lot of times, to be at their ceremonies to congratulate them — to actually be that presence and not just send a note but actually be there," she said. "You just don't see that in all the leadership."
For Bush, who has requested to retire, the future suddenly has become uncertain.
"My wife and I are exploring any and all opportunities," he said. "My daughter will graduate high school here in Grand Forks on May 26, so we'll stay here in the local area until she graduates."
Bush hopes airmen can use his experience as a teachable moment.
"I think the airmen need to know it doesn't matter whether you have one stripe (or) you've got bars, stars, leaves or eagles; you are accountable to meet the Air Force standards," he said.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/25/air-force-colonel-waistline/2017841/
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The Air Force removed the commander of the Grand Forks Air Base in North Dakota because he failed his physical fitness test.
Col. Tim Bush is no longer in command of the 319th Air Base Wing at the base as of Wednesday, Maj. Mike Andrews, spokesman for Air Mobility Command, said in a statement. The wing's vice commander, Col. Christopher Mann, is interim commander until a replacement is found.
Bush had failed the physical fitness test because his waistline was measured at 41 inches, 2 inches above the limit, he said.
"Bush was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing," a news release from Air Mobility Command said.
The colonel told his airmen the same day, announcing it at the end of a routine commander's call.
"I closed by discussing our Air Force traditions, our core values and our standards, and that we are the greatest Air Force the world has ever seen because we have standards and we enforce those standards and we hold people accountable," Bush told Air Force Times. "In this case, I didn't meet it, so I need to step down as commander.
"I offered the wing a final salute and then I left the stage," Bush said.
Until that point, Bush had an enviable record. His previous assignments include serving as presidential advance agent for Air Force One, aide-de-camp to the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and deputy director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He was a 1988 Air Force Academy graduate.
His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
Maj. Gen. William Bender, the Air Force Expeditionary Center commander who oversees administrative control for six wings and two groups within Air Mobility Command, made the decision to relieve Bush of command.
When talking about the abrupt end of his Air Force career, Bush stressed repeatedly that the Air Force has its standards for a reason and no one should be exempt from them.
"As a wing commander, I have a duty and responsibility to adhere to and enforce all Air Force standards, and in this particular case, I did not meet an Air Force standard," Bush said. "When you don't meet the standards as the commander, you can't be the commander."
He expressed no ill will toward the Air Force for relieving him of command.
"A tough decision for my chain of command, but in terms of enforcing equitably up and down all ranks, the Air Force made a fair and just decision," Bush said.
This was not the first time Bush has had problems with the physical fitness test. After having shoulder surgery a year ago, he was unable to complete it, he said. After some recovery, he passed the test in May but still could not do the pushup portion of the test.
On his latest test, he was able to pass everything except the waist measurement.
"I'm always confident that I can pass situps, pushups and run; I never had a problem with that, but I've been a big guy all my life," Bush said. "I'm not a string bean, but I think I'm prepared to do what my Air Force and nation ask me to do," Bush said. "However, in this particular situation, I did not meet the standard, and so I have to step down as the commander."
The Air Force's fitness standards have been a "moving target" since Bush graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1988, he said. "But we have better standards now than we did when I joined the Air Force in the '80s, and we have a better Air Force because of it."
Laurie Johnson, Bush's sister, remembers one moment that shows just how deeply Bush believes the Air Force makes the right call.
Johnson, who also was in the Air Force, was passed over for promotion to lieutenant colonel because of an error on someone else's part, she said. When she told her brother about it, Bush told her to fight the decision.
"I remember his words to me, too. He said, 'Sis, the Air Force is fair and sometimes their initial decision might not be a fair one; however, the thing I love about the military is that there are always ways to come around and have your stuff looked at fairly,'" she said.
Ultimately, she won and was promoted.
Bush was a true mentor to noncommissioned officers who went the extra mile — celebrating with them when they were promoted, Johnson said.
"He was the one who flew down on his own dime, a lot of times, to be at their ceremonies to congratulate them — to actually be that presence and not just send a note but actually be there," she said. "You just don't see that in all the leadership."
For Bush, who has requested to retire, the future suddenly has become uncertain.
"My wife and I are exploring any and all opportunities," he said. "My daughter will graduate high school here in Grand Forks on May 26, so we'll stay here in the local area until she graduates."
Bush hopes airmen can use his experience as a teachable moment.
"I think the airmen need to know it doesn't matter whether you have one stripe (or) you've got bars, stars, leaves or eagles; you are accountable to meet the Air Force standards," he said.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/25/air-force-colonel-waistline/2017841/
Standards
Air Force
APFT
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 52
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Once again the waist measurement is a joke. I don't care. I have seen people who are over the waist limit and run, push and sit their ass off. He is good man for stepping down and abiding by the rules. So what ever happen to the ten day retest. Umm three inches in ten days is not that hard to loose. How is it that there are Commanders out there that don't run or walk and still command? I am so glad I retired.
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TSgt Chris Gregorio
I'm 6'6 and always had trouble with the waist measurement. A man who is 5'6 and has a 38" waist is much heavier than a man 6'6 with a 38" waist; yet the AF does not take height into consideration. Bone structure should come into play and the AF needs to incorporate height for it to be a fair system.
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SGT James Kimbell
Makes sense, a male full bird is forced to retire while a female full bird, that lied, tried to intimidate, failed the PT test, tape test, and weight requirements, gets moved to another facility, and put in charge of all of the nurses.
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Sgt Mark Smith
I had a weight waiver, because I was 5 lbs over,but, I had a 52 in.chest,29" waist 16" arms,passed all the pt tests with flying colors,,lifted weights,ran,arobics,and martial arts,,,i got out because of it..but there were male and females that looked hideous in uniform,,but were not over weight,acording to 39-10 of the UCMJ,,losy a lot of good people because of this
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SMSgt Steve Gray
The simple solution to this is to restrict the physical fitness test to actual physical fitness measurements, and move the waist measurement to the annual PHA. If the true reasoning for the measurement is a predictor for future heart health, then let professionals measure it and prescribe legitimate medical care to handle it.
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Col Bush was my Wing Commander. He is 6'4 inches tall. One of the best commanders I ever had. He did not look bad in a uniform. There were no underlying factors. I believe it was Air Mobility Command's push to make sure that it was understood that no one was exempt from the PT standards. The Air Force lost a great leader that day.
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This is an old one, but I do think this was a bit over the top. There was a time when a single PT failure would not destroy a career. Now, I'd almost rather get a DUI than fail a PT test.
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SSG (Join to see)
To be specific, he 'failed' the BMI measurement. They make it sound like he failed the physical activities.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - Even more specific...it's not even a BMI, it's strictly a waist measurement. No adjustment is made for height, no effort to calculate BMI...strictly waist circumference.
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RallyPoint Shared Content, this is kind of bittersweet for me. On the one hand I'm glad to see that everyone is being held to the same standard.
On the other hand, I think it's kind of silly that the Air Force has waist measurements in addition to height/weight requirements. In the Navy (but this may change based on what I've read) you only get measured if you're over height/weight.
I also think that body fat standards are long due for an overhaul. Not everyone has the same type of body, and not everyone with a 41 inch waist is a fat ass. I've seen skinny people who can't run one lap without puking and I've seen guys with pot bellies absolutely smoke the run. Then there's the people who are into body building and/or cross fit. A guy who is 5'11" and weighs 215 of rock solid muscle is NOT a fat ass, but according to the way the Navy measures body fat he is.
On the other hand, I didn't realize that one PT test failure in the Air Force means you pack your duffel bag and go home. In the Navy it's 3 tests in a 2 year (I think) period.
With that said, and the majority of service members have been saying this for years, it's time to rethink the way the military measures body fat.
On the other hand, I think it's kind of silly that the Air Force has waist measurements in addition to height/weight requirements. In the Navy (but this may change based on what I've read) you only get measured if you're over height/weight.
I also think that body fat standards are long due for an overhaul. Not everyone has the same type of body, and not everyone with a 41 inch waist is a fat ass. I've seen skinny people who can't run one lap without puking and I've seen guys with pot bellies absolutely smoke the run. Then there's the people who are into body building and/or cross fit. A guy who is 5'11" and weighs 215 of rock solid muscle is NOT a fat ass, but according to the way the Navy measures body fat he is.
On the other hand, I didn't realize that one PT test failure in the Air Force means you pack your duffel bag and go home. In the Navy it's 3 tests in a 2 year (I think) period.
With that said, and the majority of service members have been saying this for years, it's time to rethink the way the military measures body fat.
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MSgt David Justice
CMSgt (Join to see) - In today's Air Force, a single failed fitness assessment for a SNCO will effectively "provide a vigorous application of the brakes" to any hopes of career progression. It has indeed become a single mistake service, which is ironic... seeing that some of the people propagating this culture would never be in the positions that they are currently in if they had come up in today's Air Force.
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PO1 John Miller
PO1 Andrew Gardiner
The way I understand it, if an Air Force member goes over the maximum allowed waist measurement it's not an automatic failure but they do lose points towards their overall score.
The way I understand it, if an Air Force member goes over the maximum allowed waist measurement it's not an automatic failure but they do lose points towards their overall score.
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MSgt Rick Hovik
what's I have never understood...(I speak from my experience in the AF) is the AF telling its people it wants fit, strong and healthy troops to be able to deploy downrange and to be "warrior airman". I have known people who smoke like chimneys, taking a smoke break every time you turn around. They do the PT tests and pass with flying colors. The key...they are skinny. what it boils down to is as long as you look good in your uniform your golden.
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PO1 John Miller
MSgt Rick Hovik
I had a Chief I worked for once who had the stereotypical Chief Petty Officer-issued pot belly. You know, the kind big enough to sit his coffee cup on. This man smoked the run for his age group, around 11:30 minutes.
I had a Chief I worked for once who had the stereotypical Chief Petty Officer-issued pot belly. You know, the kind big enough to sit his coffee cup on. This man smoked the run for his age group, around 11:30 minutes.
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I have not doubt that I would be fired and on my way to retirement if I fail my fitness test. I am glad he had the opportunity to take this challenge and handle it with grace. I work in the hospital and we have a lot of truly broke airman (we have some not so broke airman too, who play the system), but these broke airman need time to recover from a surgery, instead they are worried about being exempt from a portion...because it might hurt your career. Nobody cares why you were exempt, you just were and therefore you must be a slacker. If we spend more time trying to get people fully rehabilitated, maybe we wouldn't be paying so much out in disability each year. And we are the ones who are paying it, its our tax dollars.
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SMSgt Judy Hickman
I'm not quite sure what you are asking me to clarify, but I will try. If we spend more time rehabbing members from physical injuries, versus facing the pressure of passing a fitness test (forcing members to run a fitness test, because they are afraid of the implication of being on a waiver or profile too long), all this does is cause repeated injury to the members joint or whatever the issue is. This eventually leads to a disability payment from the military to the member. For example, you tear your Medical Collateral Ligament (MCL), you have surgery, you have your 2 weeks of con leave (if you are lucky), you immediately start physical therapy, but are still having pain. Because that process took almost a year start to finish, you are now facing a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), so you get off profile early so you can take your fitness test, you re-injure your knee and the process starts all over again. Because of the constant re-injury you know get a higher disability rating upon your retirement, because the 20 years you were in, you were seeing a doctor for 16 of them due to your constant knee pain.
If we spent more time upfront fixing the member versus pressuring them to take a fitness test (which has nothing to do with actual performance, its just a test to document that you can run fast and can do some pushups and sit-ups), then we would avoid the continual cost of disability.
If we spent more time upfront fixing the member versus pressuring them to take a fitness test (which has nothing to do with actual performance, its just a test to document that you can run fast and can do some pushups and sit-ups), then we would avoid the continual cost of disability.
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TSgt Robin Minor
SMSgt, I concur with your statement. I am now retired and wished that my superiors had let me fully recover and rest from injuries. What started out as heel spurs/shin splints eventually developed into full blown stress fractures in both legs. No one in my command considered giving me the additional time to heal before taking the PT test. I worked with someone who was more or less a PT Nazi and there was no intervening in how he ran his program. He was more concerned with making sure he had 100% personnel tested rather than your well being. Specifically, I was always tested the very first day (day 45) that was possible under the regulation for retests. Working with the physical therapy trainers, they were always stunned to find out how quickly I had to ramp up after injury to take the PT test. I believe the regs say anywhere between 45 and 90 days after the profile ends. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with stress fractures in both legs, that I was given a profile for a full year. Fast forward and I still had to do the test w/in 45 days despite not being able to PT for the year. These recurring injuries are part of my permanent medical injuries and part of the disability claim with the VA. I personally would much rather have my health but, now I'm paying (physically) and what could have been avoided, long-term disability payments and future medical care is now a costly reality. I was never a problem child, no repeat records of disciplinary actions...just one small injury that was never allowed to heal that then became a bigger problem. A problem and cost that was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable.
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Suspended Profile
Nice to see that standard applied equally to the officer and enlisted corps. It is routine for NCOICs, First Shirts, Sups to get relieved if they fail.
Many of us do not agree with the current stds but they are the current stds.
That being said the PT test should not include weight or size.....it should be based on performance....The run should take X amount of time, you have to do Y sit-ups, and Z push-ups regardless of age, sex, or size
Many of us do not agree with the current stds but they are the current stds.
That being said the PT test should not include weight or size.....it should be based on performance....The run should take X amount of time, you have to do Y sit-ups, and Z push-ups regardless of age, sex, or size
MSG (Join to see)
I agree and disagree MSgt. Your appearance is very important especially when you are in a high profile position.
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Suspended Profile
MSG (Join to see) - Appearance is important but don't confuse passing PT standard with being good looking...lol For 19 years I had a 41in waist, looked good in uniform, and never had issues with PT.....then the standard changed and we were told 39.5in was the max and I became of POS for no other reason...could still do more push-up/sit-ups than guys half my age and was able to complete run with time to spare....but a greater than 40in meant automatic failure.
Not complaining just stating how things went.....fortunately for me I had enough time in and I decided to rather than pay their fitness or fall prey to the monster that is PT failure. But I do have friends who have lost rank and even careers just because of a 40in waist...one of them even rana 9min 1.5mile and of course was still considered a loser because the standard is 39.5in.
Not complaining just stating how things went.....fortunately for me I had enough time in and I decided to rather than pay their fitness or fall prey to the monster that is PT failure. But I do have friends who have lost rank and even careers just because of a 40in waist...one of them even rana 9min 1.5mile and of course was still considered a loser because the standard is 39.5in.
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And so the Air Force loses another skilled leader and proven professional all because he doesn't fit the "image".
I don't know how tall or what type of body composition Colonel Bush has but from the picture above he appears to be rather tall and broad framed. I know with my own 6' tall frame, I could never reach that ideal 32" waist the AF seems to be looking for. For that matter, the last time I had a 32" waist was when I was 14 years old. And I was considerably more overweight and out of shape than I ever was while on active duty.
I don't know how tall or what type of body composition Colonel Bush has but from the picture above he appears to be rather tall and broad framed. I know with my own 6' tall frame, I could never reach that ideal 32" waist the AF seems to be looking for. For that matter, the last time I had a 32" waist was when I was 14 years old. And I was considerably more overweight and out of shape than I ever was while on active duty.
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SMSgt Judy Hickman
So true, it does appear that we want everyone to be slim... who cares if they can actually lead people.
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I feel for Col Bush and understand his predicament. For my entire career in the Air Force I was on the ragged edge of being him, it actually started before coming in the AF. I had from December to May to get from my football playing weight of 220 down to the AF maximum of 194 for my height. Obviously I succeeded, but this was a constant battle for the rest of my time in the AF. I agree that standards are there for a reason and every member of the military understands the consequences of not meeting those standards. Given his rank and position, I'm reasonably sure there is a back story that wasn't discussed in the article.
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I call bullshit on this...there had to be more to this. I think he did something else and they used this as a coverup.
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MSgt Jamie Lyons
My thoughts exactly! We are not getting the full story here. All this is a 'mine is bigger than yours' story. He probably disagreed with a 1 or 2 star and he was probably right. So the butt hurt general got him on concocted reasons to get rid of him. The military just dont get rid of a Colonel they have invested in for so long. I wonder what the real story is here. Failed PT measurement, what a bunch of crap.
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