The Southside Fitness Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is closed due to coronavirus concerns. With Air Force fitness centers closed and airmen restricted from traveling worldwide, the Air Force has suspended fitness testing until June. (Stars and Stripes)
The Southside Fitness Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is closed due to coronavirus concerns. With Air Force fitness centers closed and airmen restricted from traveling worldwide, the Air Force has suspended fitness testing until June. (Stars and Stripes)
Senior Master Sgt. Johnny Gavin does situps during physical training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The Air Force announced Thursday, March 19, 2020 that it is suspending physical fitness assessments because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Olivia Dominique/U.S. Air Force)
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KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The Air Force has suspended all fitness testing until June because of the coronavirus emergency, it said Thursday.
Mandatory assessments that were scheduled from now through May will be pushed back by six months, the service said.
The suspension comes as airmen in many locations have fewer options for staying in shape. Fitness centers on and off bases have been shuttered and group fitness classes have been canceled to try to limit social contact to stall the spread of the virus.
At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, fitness leaders are looking for ways to help airmen stay active while the gyms remain closed. The 786th Force Support Squadron is producing a fitness video, base officials said, and plans to post on its Facebook page how airmen can use the Air Force’s “Wellbeats” app, to which the service has provided free access until the end of April.
The Navy on Wednesday also canceled physical assessments for sailors, due to be held this spring, citing the coronavirus pandemic.
There have been seven confirmed cases of the virus among active-duty Air Force personnel, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said Wednesday. Overall, 49 service members around the world have tested positive for the virus, the Pentagon said.
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