The first two minutes are for warm-up, and the test begins at minute three. After the warm-up, the workload is normally increased. Personnel must maintain the same workload for six minutes to get an accurate score. Testers monitor heart rate as it relates to the workload. This equals aerobic capacity.
Aerobic capacity is the volume of oxygen consumed as the workload increases.
The cycle test is also much safer, he said, because workload can be monitored, and overload avoided. The Air Force didn't have this same control with the run, where some personnel pushed themselves too hard causing injury and even death. To test abdominal strength, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps have subtle variations of the sit-up. Army personnel do timed sit-ups for two minutes. Soldiers lay flat on their backs, knees bent at a 90 degree angle and feet up to 12 inches apart.