Waist measurement is a waste and makes no sense. It is not adjusted for height. A man 5'5" can have a 39" waist and pass, but look like Homer Simpson, and a 6' 1" 227lb man with 40" waist will look more athletic and probably out do the "Homer" on the physical events but fail the test. If there was a height scale, it would make more sense.
We just had an individual leave the service as a captain over weight issues. He was held back about 6 weeks at the end of T-6s because someone thought he was too heavy for the ejection seat limits on the T-6, he was. He was also a pretty solid big weight lifter type. So he starved himself to slim down to finish T-6s. He goes T-1s and gets a C-17. This is before the new fitness test was implemented and was when the old weight management program was in effect. He gained weight again, mostly muscle. He finishes Altus, but is now overweight by the old standards. So he goes round and round over body fat percentage, BMI and was aceing the old PT and aced the new PT. Someone was going to give a waiver, then that person wasn't in charge anymore, so back to square one. Next person wasn't going to waive, so now he is looking for a job. Before that person can follow through, he moves on, so back to square one. Enter the new PT test, and he can't pass based on waist. He maxed all the other events, and probably uber maxed some, so on paper he gets a 100%, but fails. He tried waivers, had himself floated and measured with electrodes by sports medicine folks at a large university to show his body fat was around 7% or less to prove his point, but the AF was unbending. That is about the gist of it, I can't remember all the details, but it is reasonably close to the truth. So this guy just wanted to serve his country, and spent 5 years on active duty, graduated UPT, C-17 initial qual at Altus and then 3 plus years casual at a UPT base to separate as a captain. There is a win for the tax payers.
From the latest in AF Times, it sounds like Col Bush is not bitter and says the AF made the right call.
Colonel: AF made a ‘fair and just’ decision - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times