How do some people manage to slip through the cracks with being overweight in the AF while others are separated?

2015-10-23T03:24:29-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Oct 23 at 2015 3:33 AM

2015-10-23T03:33:54-04:00

I suspect your question is equally applicable to other branches as well SSgt Paul Esquibel.

Response by SSgt Phil Sigman made Oct 23 at 2015 4:23 AM

2015-10-23T04:23:32-04:00

Is that still happening? Not sure how people got away with it before, but I do know it was a little tougher when they started measuring body fat.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Oct 23 at 2015 4:45 AM

2015-10-23T04:45:48-04:00

Waivers and profiles. That or a lot of what I see is people who hit a certain rank or year in their career where they are so close to being done that no-one says anything about it. Why get on someone's case who's separating or retiring in less than a year?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 23 at 2015 7:15 AM

2015-10-23T07:15:39-04:00

An extra inch in height gives you 5-10lbs of leeway. I'm 5'6.5" so I measure 5'6" some days and 5'7" others. Changes my max weight from 170 to 175 (DoD Standards). Some folks have been known to put that extra inch(es) everywhere, like their ID card, med record etc. It's a lot easier to fight when all your documentation says you are 6'0" and the 1SG weighs you in at 5'10".... "Well I guess all that ruck marching made me shorter...."

You know whether you are close are not going in. Everyone knows their height. The week before a weigh in, cut sugars, oils, salts. Heck, all food. You'll drop 1lb/day.

"If" I were to fail that, I still get a second chance on Body Composition (Tape Test). The Tape Test can be "gamed" by increasing the circumference of the neck. Your neck muscles can be worked out FAST.

People that are "habitually" outside standards know tricks to stay inside standards when the time comes. Weight checks aren't like piss tests. We don't do them at random. We know when they are coming, so people prepare for them.

Edit: To clarify, I've never been caught anywhere near over. Been caught UNDER a couple times. Go go banana diet!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 23 at 2015 7:41 AM

2015-10-23T07:41:08-04:00

It depends on how aggressive the squadron commanders are in controlling standards

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 8:58 AM

2015-10-23T08:58:48-04:00

Everyone I see around here on base that are pretty out of shape are on waivers. I feel that half of those waivers are crap and they're just lazy, because they seem to move around just fine.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Oct 23 at 2015 9:35 AM

2015-10-23T09:35:55-04:00

In spite of all the AFIs and guidelines, procedures, ultimately the administrative action for fitness test failure is up to an Airman's commander. There are some steadfast rules, but most of the time there are a whole lot of extenuating circumstances revolving around separation. As a rule, it is MUCH easier to separate a person with less than 15 years in service. Once you get past that 15 year mark, things become really complicated, as there is a review board involved. At that point a commander has to weigh whether not only the member, but his/her family and dependents as well, and the potential impact to them. It is not nearly easy as it sounds. You are talking about potentially taking a lifetime pension away from someone who has worked for 15 years or more to earn. Often in these cases there are medical issues, profiles, etc. that factor in as well. Administratively it is often easier just to let the person skate by and retire. Not saying it is right, just reality.

Response by TSgt Mario Guajardo made Oct 23 at 2015 12:27 PM

2015-10-23T12:27:09-04:00

It's reasonable to expect consistency but humans are not that good at consistency. Additionally, there may be other factors you are unaware of that would account for what appears to be inconsistent.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 23 at 2015 2:13 PM

2015-10-23T14:13:47-04:00

Sometimes its who you know that determines a successful outcome.

Response by SGT John Rauch made Oct 23 at 2015 2:19 PM

2015-10-23T14:19:58-04:00

its all the bacon grease they lube up with, very slippery stuff it is.

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Oct 23 at 2015 11:13 PM

2015-10-23T23:13:31-04:00

Your weight doesn't really matter. It's your waist that will get you.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 12:48 AM

2015-10-24T00:48:52-04:00

I think it has to do with NCOs not holding their troops accountable or getting the support from leadership to do something about it. It was a problem I faced with out of shape troops at a previous assignment.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 11:51 AM

2015-10-24T11:51:50-04:00

Integrity. Our first core value. It's as simple as that. When you don't have integrity, you don't have accountability.

Response by TSgt Philip Howard made Oct 29 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-10-29T15:59:20-04:00

I believe that some people seem to slip through depending on their gender. I know that is not PC to say, but it is true all the same. I have known males who have been processed out for barely not passing the standards, and I have known multiple females who somehow cut the mustard. I know of one female who had a waist measurement every bit of 45-50 inches (she was shaped like a large pear) and could not run to save her life. Yet oddly enough she could pass her PT test. The other problem is the profile system. while they are trying to get a handle on it, there are far too many people who are working that pony hard.