MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell Air Force Base’s 42nd Force Support Squadron will be recertifying all physical training run testing locations on base Friday.
This is an Air Force directed initiative, requiring all installations to recertify their 1.5-mile run and 2-kilometer walk courses by Oct. 31.
“As of now, Maxwell has never had an issue of anyone failing due to incorrect testing length,” said Maj. Michelle Durand, 42nd Force Support Squadron operations officer. “However, I believe that having a more structured process for monitoring the certification of testing facilities will benefit the Air Force from issues like this in the future.”
Multiple bases have reported incorrect measurements of their tracks, resulting in almost 60 Airmen failing their test that may have passed a correctly measured distance.
Maxwell currently has four certified testing facilities: Officer Training School’s track, Gunter Annex’s testing track, Maxwell’s Gym Annex indoor track and the down and back road track on River Rd. All of which will be measured and recertified by civil engineering and base safety in cooperation with the Air Force mandate.
“We are following the guidance provided to us and working with civil engineering to ensure Maxwell continues to have multiple quality testing sites,” Durand said. “It is important to us to maintain high standards in the support of the 42nd Air Base Wing, Air Universtiy and all other tenant units on Maxwell. We have great Airmen stationed here and will continue to have great support facilities, both for PT tests and daily exercise.”
Along with this recertification, in hopes to minimalize the potential of future occurrence, officials with Headquarters U.S. Air Force strengthened guidance by requiring installations to measure and recertify their courses each time there are changes in wing or responsible installation commanders, track modifications or lane adjustments. The Air Force inspector general also plans to include the PT program as an Air Force inspection requirement on future wing unit effectiveness inspections.
Base personnel with questions may contact the 42nd Force Support Squadron at 334- 953-5953.