My son

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Paul in OKC

Paul in OKC

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2004
Messages
3,125
Location
Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
My son has been in the Air Force for 7 years. He is done, and will be back here in OKC Friday afternoon. While we are tickled that he is going to be here with his wife and daughter, the circumstances are not the funnest. He is a BIG young man at 6' 4" and averages around 270 lbs. His biggest struggle since getting in the AF has been the waist measurement of the physical fitness requirements. It is 39", regardless of size/height. He got a waver when he enlisted, because of low body fat. He went to England about a year ago, and has failed the waist measurement, which in turn is a failed PT test, the last 4 times. He has shown improvement, but the best he got to was the last one at 39 3/4". Not good enough. So he has been given a discharge, honorable, but non-the-less. He has excelled in all other areas of the PT, has gotten nothing but excellent reviews for his work and conduct. He is a supervisor of many men, a crew cheif for the KC135 refueler, etc.,etc. (I'm partial, yes, but....). Anyway, please be in prayer for them as they transition, and as he waits for a contact to work on the AF base here (Tinker). I have written one of my congressman over the issue, and they are supposed to be looking into things, even if it helps the next guy on the 'bubble'. It may or may not help my son out some, but still waiting. Sorry, just venting.
 
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This is what kills me about rigid, inflexible one-size-fits-all policy. If he was trying THAT hard to meet a ridiculous criteria, he probably loved what he was doing, and the discharge probably hurt. I wish the best for him and his family, and bear in mind these things happen for a reason. Something better is probably right around the corner.
 
I understand, a fellow sailor was a big guy that could bench press over 300lbs but due to the measurements he was not promoted to Chief. I think if there is a body fat issue they should weight them in water to get a more accurate reading. Make sure he is aware of the education benefits he has coming. I wish him good luck and thanks for his service.
 
Wow. Bummer. But if he gets a contract at Tinker, he'll have the best of both worlds. What about the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserves? Or do they follow the same "once size fits all" program?
 
Because the discharge has a medical thing attached to it (for the PT stuff), at the moment he can not to Air Guard. He could do any of the other three services though, go figure. What we are hoping is that at least through the contact with the congressman, things will work out so he could do the air guard, if he wanted to.
Yes, I agree things happen for a reason, and I know that HE who controls things has a plan, but I have also lived a few more experiences than my son (as a lot of us have). He is looking forward to getting away from the pressure of some of the things. He has a contact with some one that recruits for a civilian outfit that contracts with the AF to do maintainance on the aircraft at Tinker, so........
 
Paul, I wish you and your son the best of luck. From personal experience, I would not put a lot of stock in your congressman. What is sad to say is we have the same congressman that we asked for assistance from over 24 years ago. Chin up and a positive attitude will carry you a long way.
 
Thanks to all. I just talked with him. Other than being a bit frustrated over a couple of things, his attitude is that it may just be the right time to get out of the service anyway. I hope he keeps that thought.
 
Paul, there are four other services! For the Coast Guard we get weighed every 6 months. If we don't make weight then body fat measurements are taken. Depending on his neck size I don't think he would have a problem other than his actual height. Have him contact the recruiters for all four services.

Also thank him for his dedicated service!
 
This body weight thing must relatively new since I was in service... 'course when I was in the navy, I had to carry rocks in my pockets to keep from being blown off the deck... I weighed 133 going into boot camp at 6'1" and came out of boot camp at 148... I stayed at 145-155 lbs until I married my current wife... she put 35 pounds on me the first year of marriage.... as far as I know we were never weighed during my tenure... our chief mess cook on the ship must have been close to 300 lbs... he was short and STOCKY - rotund would be a better description, but I won't use that... he was career, a first class petty officer and had over 20 in service. Also had a member of the CB unit stationed on Guam that was pretty rotund... again career and when I knew him a Seaman first, but that was because he had recently been busted back from First Class...

I know that my son had trouble with weight issues when he was Army... he did 5 years and was always having trouble with his BMI... he was 6'2" and about 240, but his body mass was higher.... he still has problems along those lines at 37 years and about 255...

I'm sure things will work out for your son Paul.... like you said, all things are part of a plan and what is intended to be will be... Tinker is a pretty nice place to work... my stepfather was out there for several years... he worked for Air Mod... they sent him all over to work on the airforce planes.
 
Being a civie on a AF base is pretty sweet duty, but I would seriously have him check into the bennies of the new GI bill. He could go back to school, work part time and end up with more cash in his pocket than a full time job, and much of it not taxed, from what I understand.
 
I feel for him. In 1984 I was discharged from the Navy for not being able to stay within the physical limits. Funny thing was that when we did the PT test on the submarine I was the only one in my group who passed all of the physical tests. Yet my mesurements were not within range and I was discharged. Since getting out I have been making a career working on cargo ships and once again the physical standards are coming back to haunt me. The Coast Guard now says that we have to meet new physical standards to keep our working papers, which they issue to us. So once again, even though I am a civilian, the military may take away my right to work.
 
Well, son and his family arrived Friday evening. Long day for them (30 hours, with the time loss from there to here). They are living with my mom until they get settled into a job and all. Thanks for the good words, and keep praying for him to be patient with it all.
 
Yes Paul, as a retired Navy Chief and Ex-Navy Recruiter, I had my own beefs with our weight/Physical Fitness standards. I saw the reason for standards, but it needed as anything else, exceptions. This CUT-n-DRY"this is how it is" just isn't in the best interest of the Service Branch or the Individuals. Matter fact, there were politics involved. I seen fat Chiefs and Officers allowed to transfer time and time again, when according to regs they were not authorized to do so. But the less fortunate ranked, or even a CPO that didn't conform to the KissB()()TT campaign, weren't allowed the exceptions. Hard Work wasn't always the complete answer to success, sad to say.

On the Recruiter end, I hated to turn away what I knew was a great candidate for Recruit because they were 10lbs overweight or 2inches big on the waist, knowing very well they would work it off their first 4 weeks of boot camp, and it's probably JUST what they needed. But again, No Exceptions, CUT-n-DRY.

Congratulations to your Son for all he did accomplish, and THANK YOU to him for serving.

Respectfully,
Ron Ross
CPO-Retd
 
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RonRoss said:

On the Recruiter end, I hated to turn away what I knew was a great candidate for Recruit because they were 10lbs overweight or 2inches big on the waist, knowing very well they would work it off their first 4 weeks of boot camp, and it's probably JUST what they needed. But again, No Exceptions, CUT-n-DRY.

Respectfully,
Ron Ross
CPO-Retd
Click to expand...

When I went into the Navy in 1960... the recruiter couldn't get me on the train fast enough to Dallas to get my physical... but once there there was a great debate between the doctors about whether to allow me to go or not... I was just under 6'1" tall... weighed 133 lbs soaking wet, had a 37 or 38 inch chest, a 28 inch waist... I was SKINNY -- oh to be near that size now -- I gained only 15 lbs in boot camp, we did little and that was very little physical training in boot camp... other than marching everywhere we went. Biggest problem I had was that I was a non-swim... almost too skinny to even float. with a sunburn on my head and face, I would look like one of those pencil shaped fishing floats/bobbers....

But you are right... in the four years, I saw all sizes and shapes, none of which were ever discharged for being too fat or out of shape.
 
1950s Service

TellicoTurning said:
RonRoss said:
On the Recruiter end, I hated to turn away what I knew was a great candidate for Recruit because they were 10lbs overweight or 2inches big on the waist, knowing very well they would work it off their first 4 weeks of boot camp, and it's probably JUST what they needed. But again, No Exceptions, CUT-n-DRY.

Respectfully,
Ron Ross
CPO-Retd
Click to expand...

When I went into the Navy in 1960... the recruiter couldn't get me on the train fast enough to Dallas to get my physical... but once there there was a great debate between the doctors about whether to allow me to go or not... I was just under 6'1" tall... weighed 133 lbs soaking wet, had a 37 or 38 inch chest, a 28 inch waist... I was SKINNY -- oh to be near that size now -- I gained only 15 lbs in boot camp, we did little and that was very little physical training in boot camp... other than marching everywhere we went. Biggest problem I had was that I was a non-swim... almost too skinny to even float. with a sunburn on my head and face, I would look like one of those pencil shaped fishing floats/bobbers....

But you are right... in the four years, I saw all sizes and shapes, none of which were ever discharged for being too fat or out of shape.
Click to expand...

I joined the Navy in the 50s and I weighed 155 when I signed up and 160 when I got out of boot camp. 180 when discharged. As long as we were physically able to do the job there were no problems, although we did a lot of physical training with the rifle in boot camp and with the marching and double time marching we were all in pretty good shape when we left boot. There were quite a few "overweight" guys on the ship - but I go weighed when I was given the physical for boot camp and when I got the physical for getting dischanged never in between unless I did it myself.
 
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