Air Force BMT Physical Fitness Test

What does it take to pass the Air Force Basic Military Training Fitness Test? The Air Force official site states, “One of the biggest challenges,” of basic training is the physical aspect. That’s why recruiters encourage future enlistees and new recruits to enter a self-directed, 14-week fitness program ahead of shipping out to Basic Training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

The Air Force official site places a high emphasis on fitness and being prepared for basic. “Air Force careers are often physically demanding. We maintain strict height and weight requirements throughout your career.”

Therefore, the official site says, “applicants must be in good health”. The official site describes the full physical evaluation given to recruits on the road to basic training which includes range of motion tests and any required medical consultations that might be needed.

Those who pass the physical screening and head out to basic training are expected to pass a fitness “final exam” of sorts as a condition of graduation.

But for future Airmen seeking information on what it takes to pass the fitness challenge, the Air Force official site at the time of this writing presents challenges–it is difficult to locate any specific fitness standard with current dates.

The Air Force official site has broken links to some fitness information and what specifics there are to be found are not on the official site to review, but rather tucked away in a downloadable PDF intended for potential new recruits titled Training For Basic Training.

This is basically the guide to the self-paced 14-week program mentioned above, and fortunately includes some rudimentary information about what standards you are held to in Air Force BMT when taking the BMT Physical Fitness Test.

Here is what little information is provided via the Air Force Recruiting official site:

BMT Physical Fitness Standards For Men

The BMT fitness test for men consists of:

• 5 Mile Run
• Push-ups
• Sit-ups
• Pull-ups

There are three categories of achievement for those who pass the BMT fitness test. They are, from lowest to highest:

• Liberator (the minimum standards met)
• Thunderbolt
• Warhawk

For the timed 1.5 mile run, the following standards apply:

• Liberator: 11:57
• Thunderbolt: 9:30
• Warhawk 8:55

For the one-minute timed push-ups challenge, the men’s standard is:

• Liberator: 45 push-ups
• Thunderbolt: 55 pushups
• Warhawk: 65 pushups

For timed one-minute sit-ups:

• Liberator: 50
• Thunderbolt: 60
• Warhawk: 70

For timed one-minute pull-ups:

• Liberator: 0
• Thunderbolt: 5
• Warhawk: 10

BMT Physical Fitness Standards For Women

The BMT fitness test for women consists of:

• 5 Mile Run
• Push-ups
• Sit-ups
• Pull-ups

Identical to the men’s fitness test, Air Force women have three categories of achievement for those who pass the BMT fitness test. They are, from lowest to highest:

• Liberator (the minimum standards met)
• Thunderbolt
• Warhawk

For the women’s timed 1.5 mile run, the following standards apply:

• Liberator: 14:21
• Thunderbolt: 12:00
• Warhawk: 10:55

For the one-minute timed push-ups challenge, the women’s standard is:

• Liberator: 27
• Thunderbolt: 32
• Warhawk: 40

For timed one-minute sit-ups:

• Liberator: 50
• Thunderbolt: 55
• Warhawk: 60

For timed one-minute pull-ups:

• Liberator: 0
• Thunderbolt: 2
• Warhawk: 5

For best results, men and women scheduled to go to Air Force Basic Military Training should prepare a minimum of six weeks in advance, working out three to five times per week using the entire fitness test exercise set of running, push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups.

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News