Navy to Overlook Past Fitness Test Failures to Help Retain Personnel

A U.S. Navy helicopter descends to land on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) aircraft carrier while at sea off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, on Jan. 18, 2020. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The U.S. Navy says it will overlook all previous physical fitness assessment failures for staffing decisions in a “one-time reset” to offset the effects of the COVID pandemic and boost retention.

“This NAVADMIN announces a one-time reset of all physical fitness assessment (PFA) failures,” the Navy announced Thursday. “As such all Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) officers and enlisted Sailors shall be counted as having zero past PFA failure prior to the date of this NAVADMIN when considering authority to reenlist, advance, promote, or execute other career continuation transitions such as extensions and duty station transfers.”