United States Coast Guard Physical Requirements for Women

Physical fitness is a requirement for women to join the United States Coast Guard. Women must be able to meet physical requirements associated with job demands, and they must look fit in uniform to best represent their country.

Fitness Plan

• Men and women are required to create an annual fitness plan; each week is to include at least three days of 30-minute cardiovascular workouts and one to three days of strength training.

Fitness Assessment

• The US Coast Guard Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) is used for operational training, as a requirement for jobs and as a corrective tool for members who fail to meet weight requirements. According to Stew Smith, a military fitness trainer, "the three key factors in fitness are aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance."

PFA Standards for Women Under 30

• Women in this age group are required to complete 23 push-ups and 32 sit-ups in under a minute. They are required to reach 19.25 inches in the sit-and-reach category, run 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes and 26 seconds, and swim 400 yards in 12 minutes.

PFA Standards for Women 30 to 39

• Women in this age group must complete 19 push-ups and 25 sit-ups in under a minute. In the sit-and-reach, they must reach 18.25 inches; they must complete the 1.5 mile run in under 15 minutes and 57 seconds, and swim 350 yards in 12 minutes.

PFA Standards for Women 40 to 49

• Women in this age group must complete 13 push-ups and 20 sit-ups in under a minute. They are required to reach 17.25 inches in the sit-and-reach, complete the 1.5 mile run in under 16 minutes and 58 seconds, and swim 300 yards in 12 minutes.

Weight Requirements

• Each Coast Guard member submits to a semi-annual weigh-in each October and April. Members' weight standards are based on height and frame size. If a member fails the weight requirement, her body fat percentage will be measured. Women under 30 must have a body fat percentage that's under 33 percent; women 31 to 39 under 35 percent; and women 40 and over under 37 percent.