Sep 1, 2005 12:00 PM
Failed PFAs Decrease at Hawaiian Base
PEARL HARBOR, HI — With the rollout of new Navy-wide physical readiness initiatives, Naval Station Pearl Harbor has ramped up its remedial program to keep physical fitness assessment (PFA) failure rates dropping.
The base's remedial program recently increased from three days a week to five, and it now includes not only a workout but also diet information and individualized training opportunities, said Naval Station Pearl Harbor Command Master Chief Perry Bonarrigo.
“We went to five days a week so that people would know that we're serious, and they should be serious,” he said. “We had to do a round turn to get everybody involved, not by just doing remedial [physical testing], but also by offering things at the remedial sessions that will help them, such as diet and trainers.”
Starting in January 2006, commanding officers and officers in charge will be authorized to begin administrative separation of sailors who fail the PFA three or more times in the most recent four years and fail the fall 2005 PFA.
Bonarrigo attributed the base's already decreasing failure rate to a focus on remedial training and the Return to Readiness Program, which is offered by Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) at Pearl Harbor.
Return to Readiness is a daily program that provides sailors with comprehensive cardiovascular conditioning, muscular strength and endurance training to help them get back in shape to pass their PFAs, said Lisa Hansen, fitness specialist at MWR.
Each session includes a variety of activities such as running, cycling, push-ups, sit-ups and cardiovascular workouts to burn as many calories as possible to aid body composition.
