The sailors who run the Navy's fitness programs are about to get a boost they've long wanted: a Navy enlisted classification. That will go a long way toward ensuring each petty officer tasked with administering the weigh-ins, physical readiness test and fitness enhancement program at every command is prepared to lead sailors in staying fit.
This mission is critical to sailors' careers and fleet readiness.
Establishing command fitness leader as an NEC will enhance fairness and professionalism. It establishes CFL as a specialty performed to trained standards, rather than a collateral duty. The move could prove critical for sailors struggling with fitness and needing solid guidance. And it's a hedge against complaints about double standards for chiefs and senior leaders.
A 2012 Navy audit found commands not taking PT standards seriously. Establishing the NEC would "ensure command-level physical readiness programs are properly managed," it said.
More can and should be done. Too many late-career sailors are being kicked out for PFA failures — obviously a huge loss to them but also to the service, which has invested years of training in those sailors only to jettison a wealth of experience and expertise. The responsibility to get fit and stay fit starts with the individual sailor. But many commands can do more to establish a culture of fitness, such as providing workout time and rewarding top performers. The audit makes some useful recommendations. The takeaway is that the Navy can be smarter about fitness in the fleet.
