[Editor's note: This story has been updated since it was originally published May 13 to reflect new information provided by the Air Force.]
In the four months since the Air Force opened up the last male-only combat jobs to women, two female airmen have passed the physical test required to begin battlefield airmen training.
The two women are active-duty Air Force. One is an enlisted airmen who has been given the green light to begin training as a tactical air control party airman, Col. Sean McKenna, a spokesman for Air Education and Training Command, said May 13. Her training will be held at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, although her start date has not yet been set.
The other is an officer who wants to become a combat rescue officer. McKenna said the paperwork she needs to start training to become a combat rescue officer is still being processed.
In all, 12 women have so far attempted to enter battlefield airmen career fields — seven who were current airmen trying to cross-train, and another five who are new recruits. Of the seven current airmen who want to cross-train, four are active-duty, one is a reservist, and two are in the Air National Guard, McKenna said.
All five new recruits and the other five cross-training candidates have so far failed the prerequisite Physical Aptitude and Stamina Test.
When asked about the progress of women in the newly opened career fields, AETC originally provided only data on the new recruits to Air Force Times. Air Combat Command and AETC later provided the additional information on the airmen attempting to cross-train.
In the four months since the Air Force opened up the last male-only combat jobs to women, five have tried to enter the special operations training program.
But so far, all have failed the Physical Aptitude and Stamina Test that is required before anyone can begin spec ops training.
Two of the potential new recruits hope to become pararescue airmen, and three new recruits want to become tactical air control party airmen, Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman 1st Lt. Erin Ranaweera said May 12. All five are new recruits to the Air Force.
They haven't given up yet. In a May 10 email, AETC spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday said "a few came very close and continue to work toward that goal."
And Ranaweera said it's not uncommon for male candidates to fail the physical aptitude test PAST the first time they take it. All five women have only taken the test once.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter last December ordered the military to open up all remaining gender-restricted jobs to women. That included six Air Force specialty codes comprising covering 4,099 positions: 13C special tactics officers, 13D combat rescue officers, 1C2XX combat controllers, 1C4XX tactical air control party (TACP) airmen, 1T2XX pararescuemen, and 1W0X2 special operations weather enlisted airmen.
In a Dec. 29 implementation plan, the Air Force pledged that its standards would not slip as it integrated those jobs, and that mental and physical standards would remain unchanged after opening up the elite jobs to women. The Air Force also pledged not to implement any gender-based quotas or special preferences.
"Any airman or recruit wishing to enter these [battlefield airman] career fields (regardless of gender) will be accessed and qualified using the currently validated standards," according to the plan said.
Ranaweera confirmed that the PAST requirements remain unchanged for women.
After signing recruitment papers and passing their medical screening, special operations candidates must pass PAST once to enter into the Air Force Special Ops Development Program, Holliday said. Under this program — which was launched last October and was patterned after a similar program for new Navy SEAL recruits — candidates spend three to six months training with retired special operators to get in top shape. The Air Force contracts with trainers across the country, so special operations candidates can do their training at home.
Once trainers decide candidates are ready, they take PAST again. If they pass it, they can then enter basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.
The PAST requirements for each of the four enlisted battlefield airmen career fields are as follows:
Pararescue (PJ):
Two 25-meter underwater swims
500-meter surface swim within 10:07
1.5-mile run within 9:47
At least 10 pullups within two minutes
At least 54 situps within two minutes
At least 52 pushups within two minutes
Combat control technician:
Two 25-meter underwater swims
500-meter surface swim within 11:42
1.5-mile run within 10:10
At least eight pullups within two minutes
At least 48 situps within two minutes
At least 48 pushups within two minutes
Special operations weather technician:
Two 25-meter underwater swims
500-meter surface swim within 14 minutes
1.5-mile run within 10:10
At least eight pullups within two minutes
At least 48 situps within two minutes
At least 48 pushups within two minutes
Tactical air control party (TACP):
1.5-mile run within 10:47
At least six pullups within two minutes
At least 48 situps within two minutes
At least 40 pushups within two minutes
Stephen Losey covers personnel, promotions, and the Air Force Academy for Air Force Times. He can be reached at slosey@airforcetimes.com.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
