Physical Readiness Program officially launches July 1

Starting July 1, the Coast Guard's Physical Readiness Program (PRP) becomes fully operational, and mandatory Physical Fitness Tests (PFTs) will begin for all military members. To support your success, the newly established PRP Office under the Commander, Force Readiness Command (FC-L) is rolling out new fitness equipment, high-performance physical training (PT) uniforms, fitness and nutrition resources, and live virtual webinars. 

“Service readiness starts with personal readiness, and personal readiness starts with physical readiness,” said LT Stephen Rataskey, PRP’s inaugural program manager. “This program isn't just about passing a test; it's about empowering every member to meet our challenging missions with confidence and resilience. We are investing heavily in your health, from new equipment to dedicated training resources, because you are our most critical asset.” 

After completing nine months of practice Physical Fitness Assessments (PFAs), commands and members must be ready to record mandatory PFT scores in Direct Access starting July 1, 2026. 

Full policy details are available in ALCOAST 168/26 – PHYSICAL READINESS PROGRAM FULL OPERATIONAL CAPACITY. 

We are investing in your fitness 

The Coast Guard has surged resources to help build a culture of readiness at every unit: 

• We have distributed over 1,200 pieces of new fitness equipment—including rowers and treadmills—to ashore and afloat units. 

• We have trained 3,200+ Physical Readiness Leaders (PRLs) to safely administer tests. 

• A new, high-performance, crew-selected PT uniform is currently in production. It will soon be available for purchase through the Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) system in June. Pictures are available on the PRP SharePoint site. 

Fitness and nutrition tools 

We have published a suite of products to help you train, eat well, and prepare for the PFT. You can find all of the following on the newly redesigned PRP SharePoint site. (Please note the new link; CAC required for access.)  

• The Coast Guard Workout Guide: Science-based workouts to improve your readiness. 

• The Coast Guard Nutrition Guide: Dietary guidance to fuel your body for mission success. 

• Fitness Webinars: Live, virtual webinars covering PFT training tips, nutrition guidance, and workout strategies. Webinars are held at 1400 EDT Wednesdays (starting June 10). Please register in advance via the PRP SharePoint site. 

Waivers and exemptions 

We know life happens. Physical readiness can be impacted by life events, medical conditions, or factors beyond your control. The ALCOAST details the authorized excusals, which must align with your duty status and be documented in DA: 

• Medical Exemptions (pregnancy, post-partum recovery, pre-term loss) are approved by your Primary Care Manager (PCM). 

• Medical Waivers (assisted reproductive procedures, restricted reports of sexual assault, surgery recovery) are approved by your Primary Care Manager (PCM). 

• Administrative Exemptions (unrestricted reports of sexual assault, terminal leave, certain duty locations) are approved by your Command. 

• Administrative Waivers (operational waivers, deployments, emergency leave) are approved by your Command. 

Evaluations  

Recording PFT results into evaluations will be handled through a phased approach, completely separate from the DA data entry requirement. The Personnel Service Center (PSC) will provide additional guidance in Fall 2026. 

• Flag Officers: Current. Reported on Flag Fitness Reports. 

• Officers: Starting January 2027, report most recent PFT score in both DA and on next regular OER (Physical Readiness dimension). 

• Enlisted: Starting January 2028, report most recent PFT score in both DA and on next regular EER. 

Options for more rigorous standards 

In alignment with Department of War (DoW) guidance, operational communities requiring a more rigorous, sex-neutral fitness standard are authorized to replace one semi-annual PFT with a Community Fitness Test (CFT). 

• Aviation Survival Technicians (ASTs) have already established their own CFT. If your community (such as Deployable Special Forces, Divers, or Boat Forces) wants to establish its own, route the request to FC-L. 

• Successful completion of a CFT is recorded as compliant in DA for that PFT period. CFT scores will not be documented on member evaluations. 

Points of contact 

If you have specific questions about the rollout, please use the following contacts: 

• General Program Info: Visit the PRP SharePoint Site. 

• Submit Inquiries: Use the MS Questionnaire form link listed on the PRP SharePoint site forms library. 

-USCG-