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1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy

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Air Force PFE Promotion Fitness Examination

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1 Introduction & Exam Overview

1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format 1.2 The WAPS Scoring System 1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy

2 Professionalism (AFH 1, Chapter 1)

2.1 The USAF Professional & the Profession of Arms 2.2 The Air Force Core Values & Their Virtues 2.3 Ethical Standards & the Airman's Creed

3 Military Organization & Command (AFH 1, Chapter 5)

3.1 The United States Armed Forces 3.2 The Military Departments & Services 3.3 Military Command Structure & Combatant Commands 3.4 The Air Force Total Force 3.5 Air Force Organizational Structure

4 Enlisted Force Development I (AFH 1, Chapter 7A–7D)

4.1 Leadership Levels 4.2 The Enlisted Force Structure & Tiers 4.3 Duty Titles & Special Positions 4.4 Force Development & the Competency Framework

5 Enlisted Force Development II (AFH 1, Chapter 7E–7H)

5.1 Training Responsibilities & Upgrade Training 5.2 Professional Military Education 5.3 The Community College of the Air Force 5.4 Continuing Education & Voluntary Programs

6 Assessments & Recognition (AFH 1, Chapter 8)

6.1 The Airman Comprehensive Assessment 6.2 Performance Evaluations & the EPB 6.3 Reenlistments, Retention & Continuation 6.4 Awards & Decorations

7 Enlisted Promotions (AFH 1, Chapter 9)

7.1 Promotion Systems & Programs 7.2 Promotion Cycles & Eligibility 7.3 Preparation & Individual Responsibilities 7.4 Promotion Testing & Test Control 7.5 Evaluation Boards & Central Selection

8 Personnel Programs & Benefits (AFH 1, Chapter 11)

8.1 Benefits & Services 8.2 Leave & Authorized Absences 8.3 Military Associations & Civilian Programs

9 Finance, Manpower & Resources (AFH 1, Chapter 12)

9.1 Individual Finances & Allowances 9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances 9.3 Manpower Management 9.4 Resource Management & Stewardship 9.5 Environmental Commitment

10 Developing Organizations (AFH 1, Chapter 13)

10.1 Strategic Thinking & Results Focus 10.2 Resources & Organizational Structure 10.3 Change Management & Problem Solving

11 Developing Others (AFH 1, Chapter 14)

11.1 Teamwork & Team Dynamics 11.2 Develops People: Mentoring, Coaching & Feedback 11.3 Service Mindset & Fostering Effective Relationships 11.4 Leadership: Styles, Power & Influence

12 Developing Self I (AFH 1, Chapter 15A–15C)

12.1 Accountability & Self-Management 12.2 Military Communication 12.3 Preparing to Communicate

13 Developing Self II (AFH 1, Chapter 15D–15F)

13.1 Written Communication 13.2 Spoken Communication 13.3 Electronic Messaging

14 Developing Ideas (AFH 1, Chapter 16)

14.1 What We Know: Priorities & Innovation 14.2 Cognitive Processes & Critical Thinking 14.3 Informed Decision-Making 14.4 What We Don't Know: Uncertainty & Assumptions

15 Emergency Management (AFH 1, Chapter 17)

15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards 15.2 Preparedness, MOPP & Individual Protection 15.3 Crisis Response & Recovery 15.4 Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention 15.5 Risk Management

16 Security (AFH 1, Chapter 18)

16.1 Integrated Defense & Force Protection Conditions 16.2 Operations Security (OPSEC) 16.3 Information Protection & Classification 16.4 Information Access, Cybersecurity & Mobility 16.5 Antiterrorism

17 Standards of Conduct (AFH 1, Chapter 19)

17.1 A Way of Life: Oaths, Standards & Off-Duty Conduct 17.2 The Law of War 17.3 The Code of Conduct

18 Enforcing Military Standards (AFH 1, Chapter 20)

18.1 The Air Force Inspection System 18.2 Individual Accountability & Corrective Action 18.3 Appropriate Working Relationships & Fraternization 18.4 Addressing Misconduct & Prohibited Behavior

19 Fitness & Readiness (AFH 1, Chapter 22)

19.1 USAF Fitness & Comprehensive Airman Fitness 19.2 The Official Fitness Assessment 19.3 Nutrition & Performance 19.4 Substance Use, Abuse & Treatment Programs 19.5 Readiness State of Mind & Resilience

20 Military Customs & Courtesies (AFH 1, Chapter 24)

20.1 Honored Traditions: Saluting, Titles & Reporting 20.2 Respect for the Flag 20.3 Respect for Individuals 20.4 Ceremonies & Events 20.5 Drill & Formation 20.6 Preserving Our Heritage

21 SJT Format & Competencies

21.1 SJT Format & Mechanics 21.2 Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs) 21.3 Foundational Competencies & Behaviors

22 SJT Reasoning, Scenarios & Traps

22.1 SJT Reasoning Strategies 22.2 Sample SJT Scenarios 22.3 SJT Traps & Best Practices

1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

The 2026 E-5 WAPS Catalog lists AFH 1 chapters 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 24 as tested; the E-6 catalog adds chapters 13 and 16.

AFH 1 chapters 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 21, and 23 are not listed as tested on the 26E5 or 26E6 PFE.

The catalog states examination content and importance are determined by Attachment 1, the Airman Development and Testing Chart, of AFH 1.

The ADTC assigns each section a required comprehension level; Section 1C, Air Force Core Values, is level C — Applying — for every grade.

Group study of two or more people for promotion testing is strictly prohibited and punishable under Article 92, UCMJ.

Last updated: August 2026

Where the Blueprint Comes From

There are exactly two authoritative documents for what the PFE covers:

The WAPS Catalog for your grade and cycle — published at studyguides.af.mil , formerly called the Enlisted Promotions References and Requirements Catalog (EPRRC) . It states which AFH 1 chapters are tested.

AFH 1, Attachment 1 — the Airman Development and Testing Chart (ADTC) — which the catalog says "determine[s] examination content and importance."

The 2026 catalogs state plainly: "The PFE is based solely on the Air Force Handbook 1, Airman." Nothing else is a source. And both 2026 catalogs add: "There will be no study guides developed" for the cycle — the handbook and the catalog are what you get.

The Tested Chapters

This is the highest-value page in this guide. The 2026 catalogs list the tested AFH 1 chapters under AFPT 00035 (E-5) and 00036 (E-6):

  • AFH 1 Chapter Title 26E5 26E6
  • 1 Professionalism ✔ ✔
  • 2 Aviation History — —
  • 3 Air Force Heritage — —
  • 4 Air and Cyberpower — —
  • 5 Military Organization and Command ✔ ✔
  • 6 Doctrine and Joint Force — —
  • 7 Enlisted Force Development ✔ ✔
  • 8 Assessments and Recognition ✔ ✔
  • 9 Enlisted Promotions ✔ ✔
  • 10 Assignments and Occupational Codes — —
  • 11 Personnel Programs and Benefits ✔ ✔
  • 12 Finance, Manpower, and Resources ✔ ✔
  • 13 Developing Organizations — ✔
  • 14 Developing Others ✔ ✔
  • 15 Developing Self ✔ ✔
  • 16 Developing Ideas — ✔
  • 17 Emergency Management ✔ ✔
  • 18 Security ✔ ✔
  • 19 Standards of Conduct ✔ ✔
  • 20 Enforcing Military Standards ✔ ✔
  • 21 Military Justice — —
  • 22 Fitness and Readiness ✔ ✔
  • 23 Dress and Appearance — —
  • 24 Military Customs and Courtesies ✔ ✔

Fifteen chapters for E-5; seventeen for E-6 — the E-6 list adds 13 (Developing Organizations) and 16 (Developing Ideas) .

What This Means for Your Study Time

Seven chapters are not on the list: Aviation History (2), Air Force Heritage (3), Air and Cyberpower (4), Doctrine and Joint Force (6), Assignments and Occupational Codes (10), Military Justice (21), and Dress and Appearance (23).

That surprises many Airmen, because commercial study products and word-of-mouth advice still emphasize Air Force history and doctrine — material that dominated older editions of the professional development guide. Under the 2026 catalogs, hours spent memorizing Billy Mitchell's court-martial or the tenets of air power buy you nothing on the PFE.

Two cautions before you close the history chapters for good:

The chapter list is grade- and cycle-specific. It has changed before and can change again. Pull your own catalog from studyguides.af.mil for your cycle and confirm the list yourself. This guide covers the chapters listed for 26E5 and 26E6.

Heritage still appears inside tested chapters. Chapter 24 covers the Air Force Memorial and Enlisted Heritage Hall ; Chapter 7 covers the origin of the CMSAF position ; Chapter 1 covers the Airman's Creed . History is not gone — it is tested where the catalog says it is tested.

The Airman Development and Testing Chart

AFH 1's Attachment 1 lists every section of every chapter with a required level of comprehension per grade. Understanding the levels tells you how to study each section, not just whether to.

  • Level Meaning How to study it
  • A Remembering Recognize the term or fact
  • B Understanding Be able to explain it in your own words
  • C Applying Be able to use it in a situation — expect scenario items
  • D Analyzing Break the concept into parts and relate them

For SSgt and TSgt , almost every tested section sits at level B . A handful sit higher, and those are worth extra attention:

Section 1C, Air Force Core Values — level C for every grade from SSgt to CMSgt. The only section in the handbook rated that high across the board

Sections 8A and 8B (Airman Comprehensive Assessment, Performance Evaluations) — level C at TSgt

Sections 14C (Service Mindset), 15F (Electronic Messaging), 20C (Appropriate Working Relationships), 20D (Addressing Misconduct), 24C (Respect for Individuals), and 24F (Preserving Our Heritage) — level C at TSgt

If you are testing for TSgt, those sections move from "explain it" to "apply it," which is exactly the kind of material that turns into a scenario question.

A Study Plan That Matches the Blueprint

The chapters are not equal in size. A plan that allocates equal time to each will underweight the largest ones.

Priority Chapters Why

First — highest density of testable facts 7 (Enlisted Force Development), 9 (Enlisted Promotions), 8 (Assessments and Recognition) Numeric thresholds, form numbers, PME gates, promotion dates. Chapter 9 also describes the exam you are taking

Second — high-yield, low-volume 1 (Professionalism), 19 (Standards of Conduct), 24 (Customs and Courtesies) Short chapters with quotable definitions, the core values, the Code of Conduct's six articles, and the salute and flag rules

Third — number-heavy 11 (Benefits), 12 (Finance), 22 (Fitness), 17 (Emergency Management) Dollar figures, day counts, MOPP levels, mishap classes. Build flashcards for these rather than re-reading

Fourth — concept-heavy 14, 15 (and 13, 16 for E-6) Named models — MENTOR, FRLD, FOCUS, Osborn-Parnes, Vroom-Yetton-Jago. Learn the list names and their members

Fifth 5 (Organization), 18 (Security), 20 (Enforcing Standards) Structure, protection levels, and adverse-action rules

A workable six-to-eight week schedule for an Airman starting from scratch: two chapters per week in priority order, one review day per week on previously covered chapters, and the final week entirely on flashcard drilling of numbers plus SJT practice using the official informational guide.

Practice the SJT separately. It is 25 percent of the exam and cannot be studied the same way — the last four sections of this guide cover it.

Study Legally

This matters as much as studying effectively. AFH 1 Section 9C is unambiguous:

"Group study (two or more people) for the purposes of enlisted promotion testing is strictly prohibited."

Violators are subject to prosecution under Article 92, UCMJ , and conviction can result in a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for up to two years.

Also prohibited:

Discussing test content with anyone other than the test control officer or test examiner

Sharing pretests, recalled test questions, personal study materials, underlined or highlighted study references, or commercial study guides

Placing commercial study guide software on government computers

Creating, storing, or transferring personal study notes on government computers — government computers may only be used to view electronic versions of official study references

What is permitted: "Training designed to improve general military knowledge does not constitute group study as long as the intent of the training is not to study for promotion tests," and training to improve general study habits or test-taking skills is permissible if it does not focus on preparing for promotion tests.

And the Air Force's own position on commercial products: "While Airmen may use commercial study materials in preparation for promotion testing, the USAF does not recommend, endorse, or support commercial study guides." Use them if you like — but verify everything against AFH 1 itself , because the handbook is the only source the test is written from.

One last habit worth building. When you read AFH 1 and find a number, a list, or a named model, write it on a card immediately. The chapters ahead are full of them, and the difference between a 70 and a 90 on the PFE is almost entirely a difference in how many of those you can recall cold.