The local RAF Unit can be over a hundred miles away, for a 30 minute test. The RAF would have to provide transport and food for these potential recruits. That is an immediate cost that they don't want to pay, paying Fitness First is a way making themselves feel like they've cooked the books. I do know of at least one OC of an AFCO who sent two rather baby faced NCO's to undertake the test, one to deliberately fail it and one to pass. The reports from the NCO's wasn't good and this was passed on to Cranwell, Fitness First still have the contract some years on. Typical RAF really.
You stole both my points there!
We both know that my "local" base is not that local! But there is also the option for people my side of the country to go to that well known fishhead base where their PTIs run a very similar setup (I completed one of my RAFFTs last year in a Navy run gym). Even for us at our regular location we still lost half a day twice last month with guys having to be bussed up to the gym to get their bounty tick. A fairly large waste out of 3 days training!
Also there has to be mystery shopper visits on FF. If a particular AFCO is constantly sending fatties to fail PRTC but are genuinely stumped because FF are passing them on the mile-and-a-half then the boss has a right to test the testers, even if those higher up don't take any notice at least his NCOs in the office can warn the kids coming through the door that their FF pass counts for nothing? Or get them to bang out 30 pressups on the floor in the office, no equipment required. That way the potential recruit can be coached on their performance.
At the age of 30 I motivated myself to lose a lot of weight, get fit, join the Auggies and apart from the first 6 months when I was still working at it, I pass all my tests. The last one I was nudging light blue for the first time! KG is right, there are those who want it and have to be restrained from hurting themselves (which is why my knees hurt after every lunchtime), and those that think they are getting something for nothing.
Ask the kiddies to lodge £100 deposit with the AFCO against their travel warrant, refundable on passing the fitness element of PRTC. Watch the pass rate rocket.