The U.S. Navy has eased back the punishment for sailors who fail physical fitness tests, no longer automatically condemning the service careers of those who fail two consecutive fitness assessments.
Performance on the Navy’s Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) can determine whether a sailor is able to advance in rank or even remain in the sea service. Until recently, sailors who received a failing grade on their PFA would get a negative mark on their overall performance evaluations, recommending against their promotion. The old policy also meant sailors who failed a second consecutive PFA would no longer qualify for reenlistment or retention and face separation from the service.
