Sailors can expect to do fitness tests twice a year, says Navy’s top enlisted leader

Posted on December 17, 2025 Updated on December 13, 2025

Navy updates exercise standards for Fitness Enhancement Program

Posted on November 30, 2024 Updated on November 29, 2024

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
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NAVADMIN 242/24 
 
PASS TO OFFICE CODES: 
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INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/NOV// 
 
SUBJ/NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM UPDATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025// 
 
REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/22APR22// 
REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/JUN24// 
REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/JAN24// 
REF/D/DOC/OPNAV/JAN24// 
REF/E/DOC/DOD/10MAR22// 
 
NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 6110.1K, PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM. 
REF B IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE-1, PHYSICAL READINESS 
PROGRAM (PRP) POLICIES.   
REF C IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE-4, BODY COMPOSITION 
ASSESSMENT.   
REF D IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE-10, NUTRITION RESOURCES.   
REF E IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1308.03, DOD PHYSICAL FITNESS/BODY COMPOSITION 
PROGRAM.// 
 
RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces changes to references (a) through 
(d) for the Calendar Year 2025 (CY2025) Physical Fitness Assessment 
(PFA) cycle (1 February 2025 to 30 November 2025) for a Body 
Composition Assessment (BCA) and Age-Adjusted Standards (AAS) 
exemption for exceptional Physical Readiness Test (PRT) performance. 
 
2.  Navy's Culture of Excellence 2.0 requires critical re-evaluation 
of our policies and procedures to build Great People, Great Leaders, 
and Great Teams while developing Sailors in mind, body, and spirit. 
We are modernizing our BCA by recognizing that our current policies 
and procedures can be improved to better assess every single Sailor 
to determine a Sailor's overall physical readiness. 
 
3.  BCA and AAS PRT Exemption.  Effective for the CY2025 PFA cycle: 
    a.  Sailors who do not meet official Navy BCA (Step-3) standards 
and score EXCELLENT-LOW or above on their official PRT will receive 
an overall PFA PASS and be exempt from participation in the Fitness 
Enhancement Program (FEP). 
    b.  Sailors who do not meet AAS and score EXCELLENT-LOW or above 
on their official PRT will be exempt from participation in the FEP. 
For more information on AAS, refer to reference (c). 
    c.  The purpose of this exemption is to recognize that some 
Sailors who do not meet the BCA standard are still able to maintain 
operational readiness.  This policy exemption also aligns with 
Department of Defense policy in reference (e). 
    d.  A Sailor must participate in all three modalities (pushups, 
forearm plank, and run or alternate cardio, if authorized) of the 
PRT to be eligible for this exemption. 
    e.  A Sailor who meets exemption requirements must complete one 
of the nutrition education options below per reference (d).  These 
nutrition education options are the same options that FEP enrollees 
are required to complete. 
        (1) Nutrition Consult for Individual Visit or Class with 
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).  This option allows for the 
participant to meet, a minimum of one visit, individually (e.g., 
one-on-one) with a RDN or attend an appropriate nutrition class. 
Classes are typically offered at the MTF or at a local Health 
Promotion and Wellness Center. 
        (2) ShipShape Program.  This six-module evidence-based 
program is the official Navy weight management program designed to 
assist members with making positive behavior changes to promote 
healthy weight loss.  Participants selecting this nutrition 
education option are encouraged to self-refer to the program by 
contacting their local Medical Treatment Facility or Health 
promotion and Wellness Center 
        (3) Nutrition Self-Study Course.  This course is available 
on the Official Navy PFA App.  Participants will learn about 
nutrition basics, making healthier food choices, portion control, 
and behavior modifications necessary for healthy weight management. 
        (4) Mission Nutrition Course.  This is a standardized, 
science-based two-day course focused on improving individual 
nutritional knowledge and awareness.  The course is available at 
Navy Fitness centers that have a certified instructor.  More 
information is available at 
https://www.navyfitness.org/fitness/nutrition/mission-nutrition. 
        (5) Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS). 
The Fueling Series and the Virtual Meal Builder provides Sailors 
with the tools that support healthy nutrition choices and the 
creation of individualized meal plans in both shore-based and 
operational environments.  The Command Fitness Leader 
(CFL)/Assistant CFL must review the NOFFS-nutrition section provided 
on https://www.navyfitness.org/fitness/nutrition/noffsfueling-series  
or within the NOFFS app with the member for this nutrition option. 
    f.  The CFL is responsible for managing a Sailor's nutrition 
enrollment in the Physical Readiness Information Management System 
(PRIMS-2).  Upon selecting a nutrition education option, Sailors 
must inform their CFL of which option they choose and provide proof 
of completion or progression within 30 days of nutrition enrollment. 
The completed education option is only valid for one PFA cycle. 
    g.  The exceptional PRT exemption score criteria will be re- 
evaluated after the CY2025 PFA cycle. 
    h.  References (b) and (d) will be updated to reflect this 
policy change and provide implementation guidance prior to the 
CY2025 PFA cycle. 
 
4.  The point of contact for questions is MyNavy Career Center at 
(833) 330-MNCC or askmncc.fct@navy.mil. 
 
5.  This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, 
whichever occurs first. 
 
6.  Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// 
 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

Physical Readiness Program Update

Posted on June 30, 2024 Updated on June 22, 2024

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

ROUTINE

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SUBJ/NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM UPDATE//

REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/18AUG22//
REF/B/DOC/BUPERS/7FEB22//
REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/22APR22//
REF/D/DOC/OPNAV/JAN24//
REF/E/DOC/OPNAV/JAN24//
REF/F/DOC/OPNAV/JAN24//

NARR/REF A IS BUPERSINST 1610.10F NAVY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM.  
REF B IS BUPERSINST 1430.16G ADVANCEMENT MANUAL FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE 
U.S. NAVY AND U.S. NAVY RESERVE.
REF C IS OPNAVINST 6110.1K, PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM.  
REF D IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE 4, BODY COMPOSITION 
ASSESSMENT.
REF E IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE 5, PHYSICAL READINESS TEST.  
REF F IS NAVY PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM GUIDE 9, COMMAND PHYSICAL TRAINING 
AND FITNESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.//

RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces changes to references (a) through
(f) for the physical readiness program related to fitness reports, 
evaluations, and reenlistment and extension recommendations.  These changes 
remove mandatory significant problem comments and administrative actions 
concerning physical readiness program failures.  Additionally, the Navy will 
conduct a single Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) 
cycle.

2.  Navy's Culture of Excellence 2.0 charges our leaders to build great 
people, great leaders, and great teams:  their minds, bodies, and spirits, 
eliminating barriers wherever possible.  In response, we are modernizing our 
PFA policy to acknowledge our diverse population, increase Sailor trust, and 
enhance quality of service.
Building the bodies of great people is more than annual (or
biannual) testing and includes ensuring healthy food, adequate sleep, 
opportunities to exercise (especially outside), and medical readiness.  
Commanding Officers (COs) are able to evaluate a Sailor's physical readiness 
progress or lack of progress in performance evaluations, giving them the 
ability to manage risk, recognize earnest effort, and best take care of their 
people.

3.  Effective immediately:
    a.  Enlisted Evaluation/Officer Fitness Reports.
        (1) No mandated or prohibited trait mark is required in *Military 
Bearing/Professionalism* for promotability and/or retention for the reporting 
period in which member's first PFA failure occurs.  COs will evaluate the 
Sailor's PFA progress or lack of progress when evaluating performance.
        (2) For a reporting period in which a member has accumulated two 
consecutive PFA failures:
            (a) Enlisted members are not mandated to receive minimal marks or 
trait grades in Military Bearing/Professionalism (CHIEFEVAL block 35 and EVAL 
block 36) or Significant Problems and Retention Not Recommended (EVAL block 
45 and block 47).  COs are encouraged to document a member's progress and 
initiative in attaining current physical fitness standards in the narrative 
section (CHIEFEVAL Block
41 or EVAL Block 43) and suitability for retention (EVAL Block 47).
            (b) Officers are not mandated to receive minimal marks or trait 
grades in Military Bearing (FITREP block 35) nor marked for Significant 
Problems (FITREP block 42).  COs are encouraged to document member's progress 
and initiative in attaining current physical fitness standards and 
suitability for retention in comments section (FITREP block 41).
    b.  Retention Recommendations.  Eligibility for enlisted members will be 
at the discretion of the CO.  However, if retention or reenlistment 
eligibility is removed, the CO may submit a special evaluation report to 
restore eligibility.
        (1) Commands shall not process for administrative separation Sailors 
who were conditionally reenlisted under a PFA readiness waiver and 
subsequently failed an official PFA.
        (2) Reporting Seniors retain the authority to recommend against 
retention through the use of an adverse evaluation.
        (3) This change provides command leadership discretion on retention 
recommendations to exercise in the best interests of the Navy.  In exercising 
this discretion, commands should consider a
Sailor's:
            (a) Qualification for continued service, based on the Sailor's 
ability to perform the functions of their rate without physical or medical 
limitation at sea, shore or isolated duty,
            (b) Their overall ability to contribute to Navy missions, and
            (c) The likelihood of improvement in meeting PFA standards within 
the next 12 months.
    c.  Enlisted advancement.  Failure of a PFA removes the Sailor's 
eligibility for advancement, including the ability to negotiate for billet-
based advancement orders or effecting legacy advancements.
        (1) Though submission of an adverse evaluation is no longer required, 
COs who decide not to issue an adverse evaluation and withdraw advancement 
are directed to withhold advancement eligibility for any enlisted Sailor that 
fails a PFA cycle (until a subsequent official or mock PFA is passed) by 
submitting a signed NAVPERS 1070/613 to Navy Educational and Professional 
Development Center, utilizing procedures as detailed in reference (b).
        (2) An advancement withhold should be placed on the record for every 
subsequent PFA failure the CO decides not to issue an adverse evaluation on 
until a mock or official PFA has been passed or the advancement 
recommendation has been completely withdrawn through the use of an adverse 
evaluation.
    d.  Officer Promotions.  Officers who fail one PFA will continue to be 
ineligible for promotion per reference (c).

4.  CY25 PFA Cycle.  The Navy-wide PFA cycle will be from 1 February to 30 
November 2025 in line with references (c) through (f), which are located at:  
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Physical-
Readiness/

5.  The point of contact for questions is My Navy Career Center at
(833) 330-MNCC or askmncc.fct@navy.mil

6.  This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, 
whichever occurs first.

7.  Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.//

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Here’s a link to a Military.com article:

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/20/sailors-who-fail-2-consecutive-fitness-tests-will-no-longer-face-end-of-their-career-navy-says.html

Navy will continue single physical fitness assessment cycle for 2024

Posted on November 9, 2023 Updated on November 5, 2023