Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fit for Duty Act”.
Fit for Duty Act
A BILL
To recognize and reward exceptional physical fitness among members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and to promote physical readiness and overall health in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 2 Military fitness bonus pay
Findings; Sense of Congress—
Findings— Congress finds the following:
Physical fitness is a critical component of military readiness, ensuring that members of the Armed Forces can meet the physical demands of their duties in both training and combat environments.
According to the Department of Defense, musculoskeletal injuries related to poor physical fitness are among the leading causes of non-deployability and medical discharge in the Armed Forces, costing the military billions in healthcare expenses annually.
A 2022 Department of Defense report found that approximately 77 percent of young Americans are ineligible for military service, with obesity being one of the primary disqualifying factors.
Data from the Army Public Health Center indicates that excess body fat and poor cardiovascular fitness are linked to lower performance in physically demanding tasks, increased risk of injury, and higher attrition rates in basic training and beyond.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity among active-duty members of the Armed Forces increased from 10.4 percent in 2012 to 17.4 percent in 2022, negatively affecting overall force readiness and deployability.
The United States Armed Forces lose an estimated $1,500,000,000 annually due to obesity-related health issues, including lost workdays, medical costs, and early separations from service.
The implementation of incentive-based fitness programs have been shown to enhance motivation and readiness and reduce long-term healthcare expenditures within military populations.
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that fostering a culture of physical excellence among members of the Armed Forces strengthens individual and unit readiness and reinforces the ability of the United States to project power and defend freedom across the globe as the premier military force in the world.
Establishment of Bonus— Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“358. Military fitness bonus pay
“(a) Availability of Bonus
“(1) In general—The Secretary concerned shall pay a fitness bonus to each member of the Armed Forces who—
“(A) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title; and
“(B) achieves a score of 90 percent or higher on a physical fitness test, as determined by the Secretary concerned.
“(2) Recurring availability—A bonus under this section shall be available for each physical fitness test the Secretary concerned requires a member of the Armed Forces to complete.
“(b) Amount of Bonus—The amount of a bonus paid under this section shall be—
“(1) $1,000 with respect to a member of the Armed Forces who achieves a perfect score on a physical fitness test; and
“(2) $500 with respect to a member of the Armed Forces who—
“(A) does not achieve a perfect score on a physical fitness test; and
“(B) achieves a score of 90 percent or higher on such physical fitness test.
“(c) Annual Report—Not later than December 31 of each year, each Secretary concerned shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes, with respect to the preceding fiscal year—
“(1) the total number of bonuses awarded under this section by the Secretary concerned;
“(2) the number of bonuses awarded under this section by the Secretary concerned for a perfect score on a physical fitness test;
“(3) the number of bonuses awarded under this section by the Secretary concerned for a non-perfect score of 90 percent or higher on a physical fitness test;
“(4) the number of members of the Armed Forces to whom the Secretary concerned awarded a bonus under this section;
“(5) the total cost of carrying out this section for members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned; and
“(6) a description of the impact of this section, if any, on the military readiness of the members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.”
Exclusion from Income Tax—
In general— Section 134(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(7) Certain bonus payments for military fitness—The term “qualified military benefit” includes any bonus awarded under section 358 of title 37, United States Code.”
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act.