Why doesn the DOE adopt an approach to fitness standards such as that used by the military?
The military, although similar in some respects, is structured differently. With some exceptions, older, more senior individuals and females are generally more remote from direct engagement with the enemy than younger males. The vast infrastructure of the military demands that more experienced personnel advance into less tactically-oriented, and thus less physically demanding, roles; therefore, their fitness standards adjust accordingly. DOE PF organizations are not structured to accommodate large numbers of personnel whose primary duties do not revolve around tactical defense of a nuclear site. Any modifications to the current standards will comply with rulemaking requirements, to include addressing all public comments. Q: Are the mile and half-mile run standards legitimate tests of a person’s fitness to perform DOE PF duties? A: The present standards were derived from a correlation between observed performance of a series of tactical scenarios and the selected evaluative criteria. Th
