Navy eases rule removing sailors who fail two fitness tests

(NewsNation) — Sailors will no longer face the end of their Navy careers if they fail two consecutive fitness assessments, according to an administrative message. 

Sailors who fail one physical fitness assessment are ineligible for promotion until they can pass another test under the old system. If they failed a second test, their ability to be promoted or reenlist would be taken away. 

Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the chief of naval personnel, said that these decisions will now be at the discretion of a commanding officer. 

“Commanding officers can now 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,” Cheeseman said in the administrative message.  

This is the latest in a series of changes to the fitness test in recent years.