Expert: Howard Lorenz - 4/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: After having her third child, my co-worker has a lot a weight to loose and has failed several AF PT tests. Although she continues to make improvement,if she fails the next one, she will recieve an honorable discharge. She has been in the Air Force for 11 years and is 30 yrs old. Is there any way she would be able to rejoin the AF if she gets her weight under control and becomes able to pass the fitness test?

ANSWER: There are several questions that need to be answered before I can give a difinitive answer. Questions like how long has it been since she had the child, what has she been doing to get back in to shape, Has she consulted her doctor and got on a profile?

The profile is her protection of sorts. She has to be given time to get back into shape and ther are exemptions that can be done. The Regulations do not allow for profiles... Once shes off convelsent leave and maternity leave, after that is over shes back to regular testing. She needs to get with her doc to get the profile to get the exemption, but she needs to be showing progress...

H

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It has been over a year since she had the child. She has already recieved three failures in a row. The next test she takes will determine if she is retained in the AF. If she gets discharged for this reason, will she be able to join the AF again? Thank you for you assistance.

Answer
If she fails this last one then she is done... she might be able to go to the reserves to continue her time for retirement, but it would be in her best interest to get some kind of profile that will allow her to continue to loose the weight that is needed for her to pass the fit test. It really all depends on what she is willing to do to keep her career....

H