RAFFT Exemptions

[I`m Ron Burgundy?]

You know, as soon as I saw this thread I thought it won't be long before people rally to the FT's defence....keep chomping away on the RAF blue veined piccolo! I'm just glad to see that in the midst of the current decision making madness, one decent decision has been made to discount those in the last 12 months - i've read the IBN and one of the reasons for it is that is was agreed that people in the last 12 months 'have many pressures on their time as they prepare for civilian life, and there is no benefit to the Service in initiating administrative action for poor attitude to fitness'. Most unusually, that's bang on.

 

[hobbes]

i've read the IBN and one of the reasons for it is that is was agreed that people in the last 12 months 'have many pressures on their time as they prepare for civilian life, and there is no benefit to the Service in initiating administrative action for poor attitude to fitness'. Most unusually, that's bang on.

I agree. However I believe the reason that we started to take the RAFFT a bit more seriously was because of the amount of fat techies/stackers/muppets that were going down with heat exhaustion when being sent to sunnier climates. For some of the throbbers on here who reckon that going to the gym doesnt affect their job, they should think again.

 

[Realist78]

I agree. However I believe the reason that we started to take the RAFFT a bit more seriously was because of the amount of fat techies/stackers/muppets that were going down with heat exhaustion when being sent to sunnier climates. For some of the throbbers on here who reckon that going to the gym doesnt affect their job, they should think again.

It would be interesting to see any stats to back that up. I don't recall seeing anything in black and white in the early 90s when the RAFFT came in.

 

[Downsizer]

It would be interesting to see any stats to back that up. I don't recall seeing anything in black and white in the early 90s when the RAFFT came in.

Indeed. And it was a very different airforce when the RAFFT was introduced.

 

[Chad Norman]

What a load of Tosh. So fatties get heatstroke do they? Probably more to do with your tolerence to the sun, fair hair/skin/ginger problems etc. I've seen young racing snakes struggle in the heat whilst the fat liney has been tanning his belly. Probably a good thing to be in your peak for the proper warfighting but for most of the raf!

 

[True Blue Jack]

It would be interesting to see any stats to back that up. I don't recall seeing anything in black and white in the early 90s when the RAFFT came in.

I was one of those who joined up during the window when it was known that the fitness test was to be introduced but it hadn't yet come into force. The story we were given during training was that images of wok smugglers servicing Tonkas being shown on CNN during GW1 was massively damaging to our reputation as a military force so it was decided that we should take fitness more seriously. Sounds reasonable to me. The increases to pass standards and frequency of testing 4 years ago (we must be due another increase soon!) were cited at the time as being necessary to prevent heat related injuries on ops (I vaguely remember an IBN) but I have never seen any stats before or since to prove either that heat related injuries were a problem before or that they are less of a problem now.

 

[muttywhitedog]

No doubt some career "spokesman" will present it along the lines of

"Increasing the standards of the RAF FT has had a direct impact on reducing the number of heat-stress related injuries sustained by personnel on Ops".

(However, when questioned as to how many of those injured had a BMI >25, he was unable to provide figures.)

 

[Max]

I was one of those who joined up during the window when it was known that the fitness test was to be introduced but it hadn't yet come into force. The story we were given during training was that images of wok smugglers servicing Tonkas being shown on CNN during GW1 was massively damaging to our reputation as a military force so it was decided that we should take fitness more seriously. Sounds reasonable to me. The increases to pass standards and frequency of testing 4 years ago (we must be due another increase soon!) were cited at the time as being necessary to prevent heat related injuries on ops (I vaguely remember an IBN) but I have never seen any stats before or since to prove either that heat related injuries were a problem before or that they are less of a problem now.

Exactly there are no stats to back it up it's another one of those "Bigger Picture" Emperors New clothes type excuse wheeled out to try and shut people up.

I have never known any Techie I've worked with to collapse regardless of fitness level and that's out working on the Pan all hours not sat in some A/C office stopping work when the heat stress index clocks up to Red.

 

[muttywhitedog]

Not really an issue, but if your not in the last 12 months returning from an OOA then expect the gym to be one of the first places to visit upon arrival back to the station.

I think the "overseas without a PTI" is more likely to be for likes of the Embassy and 39 Sqn Reaper staff. There is no reason why someone in the UK cant do their FT the month before they go OOA for 4 months. If they do lose currency whilst OOA, then there is already a system in place that gives them grace for 1 month after they return to work from POL.

 

[Dan_Brown]

I recently returned from det and worked with a quite large guy. He did the PDT and the 6 month det successfully and is now going through the admin process for failing his Fat test upon his return.He was told the Air Farce need Ferraris, not Landrovers!

 

[True Blue Jack]

I think the "overseas without a PTI" is more likely to be for likes of the Embassy and 39 Sqn Reaper staff. There is no reason why someone in the UK cant do their FT the month before they go OOA for 4 months. If they do lose currency whilst OOA, then there is already a system in place that gives them grace for 1 month after they return to work from POL.

39 Sqn are covered as there are more than 10 of them and they have PTLs who conduct the test for them as required already. Interestingly, the 2 people posted to Nellis AFB will become exempt - evidently whoever wrote the policy has been clever enough to take account of 39 relocating to the UK or they don't know their geography.

 

[clungemobile]

39 Sqn are covered as there are more than 10 of them and they have PTLs who conduct the test for them as required already. Interestingly, the 2 people posted to Nellis AFB will become exempt - evidently whoever wrote the policy has been clever enough to take account of 39 relocating to the UK or they don't know their geography.

PTLs....hmmmm I wonder if they ever fail anyone DT_Xtremez_06:

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

PTLs....hmmmm I wonder if they ever fail anyone DT_Xtremez_06:

Very much so... You try doing it at 3000' and 80 degree heat on astroturf!

Similar to doing it at the top of Snowdon, in the top heat of a really bad summer on grass.

The good news, its just the same as doing it in a normal RAF gym!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Realist78]

I was one of those who joined up during the window when it was known that the fitness test was to be introduced but it hadn't yet come into force. The story we were given during training was that images of wok smugglers servicing Tonkas being shown on CNN during GW1 was massively damaging to our reputation as a military force so it was decided that we should take fitness more seriously. Sounds reasonable to me. The increases to pass standards and frequency of testing 4 years ago (we must be due another increase soon!) were cited at the time as being necessary to prevent heat related injuries on ops (I vaguely remember an IBN) but I have never seen any stats before or since to prove either that heat related injuries were a problem before or that they are less of a problem now.

Total hoop IMO. On the rare occasion that our armed Forces have lost a battle/conflict, I think it's safe to say that it wasn't through lack of a gymnasium.

 

[I`m Ron Burgundy?]

I was one of those who joined up during the window when it was known that the fitness test was to be introduced but it hadn't yet come into force. The story we were given during training was that images of wok smugglers servicing Tonkas being shown on CNN during GW1 was massively damaging to our reputation as a military force so it was decided that we should take fitness more seriously. Sounds reasonable to me. The increases to pass standards and frequency of testing 4 years ago (we must be due another increase soon!) were cited at the time as being necessary to prevent heat related injuries on ops (I vaguely remember an IBN) but I have never seen any stats before or since to prove either that heat related injuries were a problem before or that they are less of a problem now.

I totally believe this - I've always thought that, along with the general need for a formalised physical training programme/testing system due to the increasing rigours of Ops, a large element of this was for show....many people i've met have expressed their embarrassment when discussing the RAF's 'low standards' when compared with the Army. I think that those same people had a lot of say in the gradual raising of said standards over the years....nothing to do with any quantifiable data but more parity with the other services.

 

[busby1971]

The RAFFT was the cheapest and most efficient way of testing VO2 Max, it's not a fair test and it is likely to lead to people injuring themselves therefore it is not the most effective.

However a test is a test and if you want to be the RAF you need to do what the RAF can legally and justifiably ask you to do.

So if you cannot be agree with this or any other test that the RAF wants you to do then you should leave pronto because you're never going to be happy.

By the way I never failed the test once, this doesn't mean I agree with the test I just got on with it and enjoyed the opportunity to have a bit of Phys in work time.

This DIN is just adding a bit of common sense to policy to ensure that all people get the same treatment and so the Mirror Mechs don't have to make a decision.

 

[iainrm]

Total hoop IMO. On the rare occasion that our armed Forces have lost a battle/conflict, I think it's safe to say that it wasn't through lack of a gymnasium.

The last win was in 82 and we did not have fitness tests then, fortunately.

 

[Stevienics]

The last win was in 82 and we did not have fitness tests then, fortunately.

Amen to that.

 

[Kenbophaw]

I notice that the Briefing Note has disappeared...... wonder why???

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Maybe they've spotted my previous observation that you can technically not have to do it for 18 months instead of 12.