The Air Force maintains a series of standards for the way airmen, NCOs and officers wear their uniforms and present themselves in a military fashion. These rules and regulations are designed to ensure all servicemembers maintain discipline and represent the Air Force in an acceptable fashion.

Air Force uniform, dress and appearance standards may be found in AFI 36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel. Standards covered by AFI 36-2903 include:

• Wearing the Uniform


• Desert Camouflage Uniforms (DCUs)


• Service Dress Uniforms


• Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs)


• Mess Dress Uniforms


• Maternity Uniforms


• Placement of Insignia on Uniforms


• Awards and Decorations


• Occupational and Duty Badges

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We’ve added a new Air Force Physical Fitness Test Calculator to the site. It helps you compute your score on the Air Force physical fitness test. Simply enter the values you expect to score on the exam and press the Calculate button. The calculator will then provide you with your Air Force PFT total score and fitness category.

Try the Air Force PFT Calculator

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In January 2004, the Air Force scrapped their complete reliance on the dreaded “bike test” and returned to the roots of physical fitness. Airmen and officers must now pass a multi-part physical fitness test (PFT) on at least an annual basis. The test consists of three components: aerobic fitness, muscle strength and body composition.

In the remainder of this article, we examine each of the three test components. The scoring tables are complex, so we’ve created an online Air Force PFT calculator to help you compute scores.

Aerobic Fitness

Cardiovascular fitness is one of the cornerstones of a solid physical fitness foundation. In fact, the Air Force used to rely completely on this component during the era of the bike test. Under the new system, cardiovascular fitness accounts for 50% of your total physical fitness score. All Air Force servicemembers must complete a 1.5-mile timed run to determine their aerobic fitness score.

Servicemembers who are physically unable to run may receive a medical waiver authorizing them to participate in an alternative aerobic fitness assessment. Available alternatives include cycle ergonometry (yes, the “bike test”!) and a 1-mile walk. Choice of an alternative test rests with the unit commander, based upon medical guidance.

Muscle Strength

The muscle strength component of the test determines 20% of your fitness score and consists of two tests. First, you must perform the maxmimum number of push-ups you can accomplish in one-minute. Next, you perform a similar series of one-minute timed crunches. Each of these tests is weighted equally as 10% of your final fitness score.

Body Composition

The final component of the test, body composition, accounts for the remaining 30% of your score. If you have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25%, you are exempt from measurement and receive the full 30 points. If your BMI is greater than 25%, the Air Force will measure the circumference of your abdomen and determine your body composition score. This component replaces the height and weight testing performed in the past.

Calculating Your Score

You may calculate your score using the following formula:

(Aerobic Score X 50%) + (Push-Up Score X 10%) + (Crunches Score X 10%) + (Body Comp Score X 30%)

This will produce a score on a scale of 1-100. Use the table below to convert your numeric score to an Air Force fitness category:

Testing Requirements

Airmen and officers who score in the Excellent or Good categories must retest within 12 months of their assessment. Members who score in the Marginal or Poor categories must retest within 90 days of their assessment.

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All members of the Air Force (AF) must be physically fit to support the AF mission. Health benefits from an active lifestyle will increase productivity, optimize health, and decrease absenteeism while maintaining a higher level of readiness. The goal of the Fitness Program (FP) is to motivate all members to participate in a year-round physical conditioning program that emphasizes total fitness, to include proper aerobic conditioning, strength/flexibility training, and healthy eating. Commanders and supervisors must incorporate fitness into the AF culture to establish an environment for members to maintain physical fitness and health to meet expeditionary mission requirements and deliver a fit and ready force. The annual fitness assessment (FA) provides commanders with a tool to assist in the determination of overall fitness of their military personnel.

The Air Force Fitness Program is governed by AFI 10-248: Air Force Fitness Program. Before reading the instruction itself, you may wish to read our summary article: Air Force Physical Fitness Requirements.

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The U.S. Air Force uses weight standards to ensure that potential recruits are physically fit for duty. Current Air Force standards appear in the table below. To find the maximum allowable weight for your height, find the row corresponding to your height (in inches) and the column corresponding to your gender and read the result (in pounds).

These standards do not apply to active duty airmen, who must instead meet the Air Force fitness standards.

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The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam is required for all individuals seeking to enlist in the United States military. The military uses ASVAB scores to determine an individual’s qualification for enlistment and identify military careers appropriate for the individual’s talents and skills. Before taking the exam, you may wish to review the free ASVAB study guide and take free practice tests.

Exam Structure

The exam itself is a multiple choice exam with several sections. It’s very similar in format and content to the SAT, ACT and other standardized exams. There are nine sections on the exam:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
• Assembling Objects (AO)
• Auto & Shop (AS)
• Electronics Information (EI)
• General Science (GS)
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT)

The military only uses four sections of the ASVAB to determine an applicant’s eligibility for enlistment. They calculate a subscore, known as the AFQT score, by combining the AR, MK, PC and WK scores to evaluate a recruit’s English and mathematics skills.

The military services each have different minimum requirements for the AFQT. Current minimums are:

• Air Force: 36
• Army: 31
• Navy: 35
• Marines: 32
• Coast Guard: 36

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Are you thinking about enlisting in the United States Air Force? Before you visit a military recruiter, you may wish to verify that you meet the basic enlistment requirements to avoid a disappointing outcome. Here’s an overview of the current requirements:

• Age requirement. Currently, the Air Force will allow you to enlist in the active duty force if you are between the ages of 17-27. If you are 17, you must have written parental consent. If you hope to enlist in the Air Force reserve, you may be up to 34 years old. If you have prior military service, you may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement.


• Exam requirement. You must take and pass the Armed Forces Qualifying Test. Each service has different standards for passing the exam.
• Medical Eligibility. You must be able to pass a military physical and be medically qualified for worldwide service. You also must meet Air Force height and weight standards.


• Drug History. You will be asked to answer the following questions in writing before you enlist:
  
  
  
  • Have you ever used or experimented with marijuana?
  
  
  • Have you ever experimented with, used or possessed any illegal drug or narcotic?
  
  
  • Have you ever been a supplier or distributor of or a trafficker in marijuana, or other illegal drugs or narcotics?
  
  
  • Have you ever been treated or undergone rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse?
  
  
  • Have you consumed hemp seed oil or any products containing hemp seed oil in the last 45 days?
  
  
  
  Marijuana use alone is not necessarily disqualifying, depending upon the number of uses. You will be required to take a drug test before enlisting.


• Moral History. Convictions for any of the following offenses will make you ineligible for military service:
  
  
  
  • Aggravated assault
  
  
  • Bribery
  
  
  • Burglary
  
  
  • Carnal knowledge of, or indecent acts with, a child under 16
  
  
  • Draft evasion
  
  
  • Extortion
  
  
  • Kidnapping, abduction
  
  
  • Manslaughter or Murder
  
  
  • Perjury
  
  
  • Rape
  
  
  • Robbery
  
  
  
  Exceptions may be made in some cases where the crime was not committed as an adult. Convictions for other crimes require a waiver.


• Education. Generally speaking, you must be a high school graduate to enlist in the Air Force. Unlike other services, the Air Force usually accepts only individuals with a high school diploma or adult education diploma. They do accept an extremely small number of individuals with a GED or equivalent. Those individuals must have exceptionally high scores on the AFQT.


• Dependents. You may not have more than two dependents (including your spouse). Single parents are not eligible for enlistment. If you are married to a military member and have children, you are only eligible to enlist if you obtain a special waiver.


• Financial Qualifications. If you have any dependents, are 23 years of age or older, or have a bad credit history, you must successfully complete a financial qualifications check. Basically, the military looks at your debts and financial responsibilities and compares it to your future military income. If you won’t be able to meet your obligations on a military salary, you’re ineligible to enlist.


• Residency. You must be a permanent resident of the United States to enlist in the Air Force. You’ll be asked to prove this by providing either a green card or a permanent resident visa and proof that you’ve established a permanent home in the country. If you’re hoping to become a military officer, you must be a U.S. citizen.

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