#1: Knowing how to work the PFT to pass

Ever since 2004 and the introduction of the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (PFT) as the standard over the bike test, Airmen have been figuring out ways to pass the PFT.  For the majority of intel Airmen, our days of sitting in front of a 60-inch plasma add to the difficulty of simply being in shape 24/7.  Even worse, we're almost entirely locked inside our windowless buildings working our solid 12-hour shift without a chance of an hour long break to hit the gym.  Because of these hinderances, us intel Airmen sit around, score sheet in hand, figuring out what they need in each category in order to sneak in a 75 out of a 100 to pass.

First, the easiest category to predict is your waist.  Generally, based on your last PFT you can safely believe your waistline is roughly the same; yet, you'll definitely want to up the score by half to be safe.  Secondly, the run is your biggest hurdle as it's worth a whopping 60 points.  The Air Force provides inconvienient random stretches of run times like 11:23 - 11:38 or 15:21 - 15:50.  They don't even come in easy-to-do-math 30-second increments.  So here, the member likes to up the score by a lot to ensure they can get a sold 65 after the waist score.  In regards to the two final categories, push-ups and crunches, at 10 points apiece it's not as important to max these categories.  For most, a solid 7 in each is acceptable; however, for those that struggle in one category, they bounce back and forth between the run and the other category in order to find the elusive 75 score.

Getting a passing score is critical to avoid the dreaded weekly fitness classes and having to retest within 90-days.  The Airman will go back and forth to all the categories, writing their scores on scrap pieces of paper, and pretending their really not worried about the test, but that they are just making sure.  After they've secured a 75+, next they enjoy telling others how to get a passing score too.  Naturally, the Airman will gleefully tell others they pass every time and that it's "easy" to pass, so others shouldn't worry so much.

Yes, the Air Force has PT standards, we test twice a year (unless you get 90+, then you test annually).  For some, it's just another day at the gym.  For others, it's a looming death trap waiting to put your insecurities on display for the whole unit to see; however, we know how to get just enough to get by.