CMSAF addresses fitness, training by Staff Sgt. Michael Voss 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs 10/29/2004 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN)  -- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray spoke to a crowd of nearly 400 Airmen at an enlisted seminar here Oct. 22. He discussed issues facing the Air Force, and fielded questions and concerns from those in attendance. He started by asking how many in the audience had heard of Airman 1st Class Scott Palomino, a 19-year-old surveillance technician who lost his leg from the knee down as the result of a mortar attack in Iraq. Chief Murray used Airman Palomino’s dedicated service in Iraq to stress the importance of training and readiness in the ever-evolving Air Force. “We have 7,000 Airmen rotating in and out of Iraq every three to four months,” the chief said. “The war on terror has called our Airmen to action in many different, and sometimes nontraditional capacities. We are extremely proud of the work you are doing while deployed and back here at home stations.” He said that while heavily engaged around the world, Air Force officials are working hard to balance the force as the number of Airmen is above mandated active-duty end strength, resulting in the force-shaping program. Air Force officials recently completed Phase I of the force-shaping program, where more than 2,400 Airmen were approved for retirement, separation or acceptance into the Palace Chase program. Palace Chase allows active-duty Airmen to transition to the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard. Phase II of the program further eases the restrictions on Palace Chase by changing the minimum time for application by active-duty servicemembers from 24 to 12 months. “We are focused on maintaining a quality force,” said Chief Murray, stressing the importance of supervisors becoming familiar with the career job reservation system so that they can better advise Airmen on their retention in the Air Force. Under the recently reinstated CJR system, first-term Airmen have to apply and be recommended by their commander to reserve a position in their career field. Airmen who do not receive an approved CJR may not be allowed to re-enlist unless they are approved to retrain into another specialty. The increased competition for jobs in the shrinking force will make it harder for Airmen who make poor decisions to continue to serve. Some otherwise good people who make mistakes resulting in actions like an unfavorable information file may have to separate, he said. Airmen also will have to meet more strict fitness standards, Chief Murray said. “The Air Force Fitness Program has set standards for our Airmen to achieve, but more importantly, it’s designed to encourage a change in our fitness culture,” he said. The program uses a one and a half-mile run, abdominal circumference measurement, push-ups and crunches to evaluate a person’s total fitness. “Airmen should expect fitness standards to be included on officer and enlisted performance reports in the future,” the chief said.