Airmen selected for enlisted professional military education will no longer face automatic Course Removal after Fitness Test Failures during the service-wide Transition to a New Physical Training Program. The Thomas N. Barnes Center issued a December update confirming a temporary pause in expulsions while the Air Force rolls out a longer run, a restored body composition check, and a move to twice-yearly assessments. Home units must still send students with a current, passing official Physical Fitness Assessment, and students will complete a course-level diagnostic test once on base. Those who fail the diagnostic remain enrolled, but become ineligible for honors such as distinguished graduate. Behind the memo lies a larger shift in policy and culture, one that affects promotion timelines, course capacity, and morale across enlisted ranks. For example, Sergeant Morales arrived at leadership school with a current score, struggled on the diagnostic run during diagnostic testing, stayed in class, and lost eligibility for course awards while peers adjusted training plans back home. This change protects short-term career progression while the service synchronizes training schedules and Fitness Standards, a balance between operational readiness and fair assessment during change.
Airmen Exempt from Course Removal During PT Transition
The Barnes Center memo makes a simple rule clear. Starting January 1, students failing a course-conducted diagnostic Physical Training assessment will remain enrolled and will not face immediate Course Removal. Leaders intend this rule to hold through the phased rollout of the New Physical Training Program, which shifts the run to 2 miles and restores a body composition measure. Those enrolled still need a current, passing official assessment from their home unit before arrival.
Insight: The change buys time for adaptation while protecting promotion pipelines.
What the New Physical Training Program changes mean for testing
The Air Force announced the test redesign in September. The run increases from 1.5 miles to 2 miles, a body composition component returns, and testing frequency moves to every six months. Official scored testing freezes from January 1 through February 28, then diagnostic testing resumes March 1 through August 31, with scored tests restarting September 1, 2026. These steps aim to give Airmen time to adjust training plans at unit level.
Example: a unit that introduced two weekly tempo runs and targeted strength sessions saw faster adaptation during the diagnostic window.
Insight: The phased approach reduces sudden penalties while preserving long-term Military Fitness goals.
How the exemption policy shapes enlisted professional military education
Enlisted PME, including Airman Leadership School and the Noncommissioned Officers Academy, requires fitness assessments under a 2023 order. Previously, failing a course test often forced removal and long waits for new slots. The new guidance keeps students in class but bars them from awards if they fail the diagnostic. Course directors will add this rule to the next EPME handbook update. Home units remain responsible for sending students with current passing official assessments.
Case study: a student who failed a diagnostic finished the foundation curriculum, applied feedback from instructors, and returned to the unit with clearer training targets.
Insight: The policy prioritizes education continuity while holding standards through award eligibility.
Practical steps for Airmen during the diagnostic testing pause
Units will use the diagnostic window to prepare Airmen for new Fitness Standards. Use the next months to update training plans and track progress. Below are focused steps that help you stay mission ready.
- Recalibrate running sessions: build toward sustained pace for 2 miles, include tempo work twice weekly.
- Reintroduce body composition habits: track nutrition, add targeted resistance work for posture and core.
- Use diagnostic data: treat each diagnostic as a practice test, then adjust volume and recovery.
- Coordinate with your unit: arrive with a current official assessment, and keep training logs for follow up.
- Protect recovery: prioritize sleep, hydration, and heat adaptation when training outdoors.
Resources linked from our training guides highlight adaptations for hotter climates and inclusive approaches to preparation. See our deep dive on heat-focused workouts and plans for inclusive sessions at unit gyms in inclusive workout strategies.
Insight: Structured, short-term adjustments yield predictable gains during the diagnostic period.
Implications for military fitness culture and exemption policy
The temporary exemption from Course Removal reflects a broader tension between strict enforcement and development. Restoring a body composition standard signals a return to traditional markers of readiness, while the enrollment protection stresses educational continuity. Units will need clear guidance on the Exemption Policy and how diagnostic failures influence promotions and awards.
For commanders, the balance requires transparent communication and measurable training plans. Our review of current guidance ties to broader debates about testing fairness and role-appropriate standards. For practical context, compare evolving guidance with historical training standards outlined in training resources like Air Force training standards and critiques such as myths about alternate combat fitness tests.
Insight: Policy shifts influence unit routines and leadership decisions more than individual test formats.
Our opinion
The temporary allowance for Airmen to remain enrolled after Fitness Test Failures provides a fair transition during a major Transition to a New Physical Training Program. Requiring a current official assessment at arrival protects standards while the diagnostic window offers a real chance to adapt. Leaders should use diagnostics to guide targeted training, protect recovery, and maintain transparent expectations about awards and promotions. For practical training models, review our piece on evolving military fitness standards and inclusive assessment approaches at inclusive fitness assessment guidance. Share this analysis with your unit, update pre-deployment plans, and set measurable short-range goals for the diagnostic window.
Insight: Clear rules plus focused preparation will keep education pathways open while preserving long-term readiness.