The SAAF Forum

Hi everyone! This is my first post, so forgive me if it looks wonky.
I am sixteen years old and I want to join the air force when I graduate. The only problem is, I'm a little overweight. I want to start losing weight and becoming fit. How fit should I be to be able to join? Is there a certain number of push-ups or sit-ups etc I need to be able to do?

I don't think there is a minimum fitness level per se to join, but you must be healthy. It will be important that your BMI is within the healthy range, so it's never too early to start losing some excess weight.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Thanks. Really helpful.

You must be able to run a 2.4 under 9 minutes, with full kit.

But that is after you join and during basics, not before you join?

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

There is no minimal fitness level to join, however you will go through medical screening before hand called a CHA. Continual Health Assessment. These are done every year (in the process of being moved to every 6 months) that you are a member of the SANDF. You go through these tests to get your medical classification ie G1K1 green, perfect cannon fodder, which is required for basic training. The CHA test is nothing to do with fitness but more to do with general health. They consist of blood pressure test, eye test, hearing test, HIV and Hepatitis test, BMI test, urine test, and a consult with a doctor. Biggest issues is always the BMI!! And it's the one thing you have control over!!

As for the fitness, when you join and start basics you will do a standard SANDF fitness test every 2 to 3 weeks or so of BMT and that is so they can track your fitness and also so the PTI's have an excuse to give you gas if you fail.

So don't stress about fitness too much, they will get you fit in no time flat, however the fitter you are the easier the first month of basics is so I would recommend getting as fit as possible beforehand. But like I said the BMI is always as issue so look up the ideal weight for your height and aim for that!

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flying is easy, you just throw yourself at the ground and miss...