The Air Force has removed the colonel in command of the Grand Forks Air Base in North Dakota because he failed his physical fitness test.
Col. Tim Bush lost his job because his waistline was measured at 41 inches, 2 inches above the limit, according to USA Today.
“Bush was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing,” a news release from Air Mobility Command said.
Bush’s previous assignments include serving as presidential advance agent for Air Force One, aide-de-camp to the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk and deputy director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He was a 1988 Air Force Academy graduate.
His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
When talking about the abrupt end of his Air Force career, Bush stressed repeatedly that the Air Force has its standards for a reason and no one should be exempt from them.
“As a wing commander, I have a duty and responsibility to adhere to and enforce all Air Force standards, and in this particular case, I did not meet an Air Force standard,” Bush said. “When you don’t meet the standards as the commander, you can’t be the commander.”
He expressed no ill will toward the Air Force for relieving him of command.
“A tough decision for my chain of command, but in terms of enforcing equitably up and down all ranks, the Air Force made a fair and just decision,” Bush said.
This was not the first time Bush has had problems with the physical fitness test. After having shoulder surgery a year ago, he was unable to complete it, he said. After some recovery, he passed the test in May but still could not do the pushup portion of the test.
On his latest test, he was able to pass everything except the waist measurement.
