Air Force general who was "too fat for service" passes fitness test

Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, The adjutant general of the New Jersey National Guard, guides New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie through the feeding point manned by National Guard soldiers who are supporting first responders, recovery workers and returning Sea Bright, N.J., residents by providing hot meals using a Mobile Kitchen Trailer, Nov. 9, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant/Released)

The leader of New Jersey’s National Guard has passed a fitness test, meeting a deadline to shape up that was imposed by the governor, who himself has faced questions about his weight.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff was given 90 days to slim down and meet his obligations in September after he was reprimanded by thePentagon about his weight and for repeatedly dodging physical-fitness tests. Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, said Wednesday that Cunniff informed the governor that he was administered his fitness test Tuesday and passed.

It was not clear how much weight the general had to lose. Cunniff flunked his first fitness test in more than three years in November 2013 when his waist size was measured at 43.5 inches — 4.5 inches larger than allowed.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff, the adjutant general of the New Jersey National Guard, briefs Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau and other National Guard senior leaders visiting areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York and Guard members supporting recovery operations on Nov. 2, 2012. This image was acquired on a flight line where headgear is prohibited. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill) (Released)

A spokesman for Cunniff wasn’t immediately available to comment Wednesday.

“Many people struggle with weight control — I am not immune from this,” Cunniff said in the statement in September. “However, I do recognize that military members and leaders, like myself, are held to a higher standard. I take this matter seriously and am taking the necessary steps to remedy this issue.”

Roberts said in September that Christie “expressed directly to the general that his failure to meet that standard or to provide notification of his formal reprimand is both unacceptable and disappointing.”

Christie, who once called himself “the healthiest fat guy you’ve ever seen,” underwent lap-band weight-loss surgery in 2013.

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